Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for coming in today and I compliment all their workers and all of the workers in the local authorities out there who did fantastic work after Storm Éowyn. As we are well aware, it is probably one of the worst storms we have seen in our lifetime. I hope we will not see one like it again. To go back to the review of Storm Éowyn, the Department of housing recommended new legislation to reduce the risk to power and communication systems from vegetation and forestry. We are all well aware, unfortunately, of the number of trees knocked during the storm. The amount of damage caused to the electricity system was unbelievable. As we are well aware, houses were left without electricity for up to 12 or 14 days. I compliment the ESB on the fantastic work its workers did after the storm. This is an issue I have raised with the Minister. Do we have any update on when the legislation will be introduced and how it will be enforced so as not to allow this to happen in future?