John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister of State to intervene in this matter because there are potential costs to the State. It is not reflected in the Estimates, but it is a potential cost, whether legal or compensatory, to the State and it needs to be sorted out. Going down that legal route is one step beyond common sense. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, wants to bring change to that Department and I would suggest that outstanding matters, such as those with a potential liability, should be dealt with. I hope the note I gave will inform the Minister of State and that he will be able to resolve the issues. It is very important that we do not leave it on the long finger because it is not reflected here in the Estimates.

How it will be dealt with is a matter for the office, but I ask the Minister of State not to follow the line that it has gone down the legal route because that is merely parking it and sending it to a cul-de-sac. It is a tactic used by many Departments in order not to deal with a matter. I hope that between now and the meeting, which we hope to hold with the Minister of State and his officials in September, that particular matter at least can be brought to a head one way or the other in a common sense way.

Regarding the insurance issues that were addressed earlier by other members, there are properties and businesses along the River Nore in Kilkenny that have been destroyed. They are turning to the State for assistance because they could not get insurance and they are not covered by insurance. The fund made available by the Minister does not go to next or near putting them back in business. What is the Department's policy position on those few numbers of businesses, possibly dotted around the country, that are attempting to get back into business, that cannot get insurance and that are looking to the State for some sort of assistance to deal with their issues? Is there a fund or is there a way that the Minister of State can examine these issues with a view to resolving them?