Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for being here today. Dr. Mellett has quite a CV. It really outlines his impressive experience in terms of the Naval Service, the Naval Service college and the Defence Forces. As important as that, his passion, experience and knowledge is really palpable. I thank him for bringing all of that to this role and to this really important office because it is really important we have someone who is eminently qualified because this is an extremely important new agency. It has been a long time in the making and is backed up by legislation. It offers huge potential for Ireland not only for planning, skills and technology improvements but also for monitoring, protection, drainage and all of the day to day stuff. It also offers us in Ireland the opportunity to become world leaders in offshore renewable energy. We have had many presentations at this committee about the impacts that would have from a climate and an economic perspective up and down our coastline.

The agency was established in July. I come from a corporate and change management background, so I am interested to hear how things are bedding in, what staffing levels are like at the moment, what the work plan is for the year ahead, and what the metrics will be. How will we be measuring the success or otherwise of the agency?

I have an off-topic question. In Dr. Mellett's presentation he spoke a little about how MARA could support delivery of the likes of drainage projects and I am curious to find out a little bit more about that and whether that would have potential when it comes to the likes of flood mitigation. I am conscious that homes in Wexford and are Cork currently under water after Storms Babet and Ciarán in the last number of weeks and those coastal areas are often worst affected.

My main question relates to the actual organisation but if Dr. Mellett has time, and I think there is five minutes left, I would like to learn more about the drainage situation.