Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There did not appear to be a protocol in place in the event of a weather warning being issued and there does not appear to have been any resolution should a similar warning issue now. Met Éireann had issued a five-day outlook and the response was poor. The OPW must abide by the protocol in place - I acknowledge the organisation may be hamstrung - and that is why we wanted that clarified in order that the committee could bring political pressure to bear to rectify that. However, the ESB and other stakeholders are satisfied that the status quo is as good as it gets and the only amendment that can occur is subject to the completion of the CFRAM study. In the meantime, the stakeholders we represent such as the farmers and those who derive their livelihoods from these lands are the only ones left out in the cold with no solution to their problems. They do not agree but they are in the minority and, therefore, they do not have a say.