Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The events of the past week in respect of weather conditions and the havoc wreaked on thousands of homes, lives, careers and opportunities have been unprecedented. While the Government is not responsible for the extent of the rainfall, it is responsible for the response to this calamity. As I understand from reports from the ESB, this is a once in 800 years event and water levels on the River Shannon and at other locations are above the worst disaster levels ever recorded in 1954. The Taoiseach took time to visit a number of the affected locations yesterday but I have received written reports from all of our Deputies and Senators in affected locations from Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, Galway and other places. This is a horrendous position as we face into Christmas. The people affected need help now. It ranges from the call from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for basics such as boots, clothes and blankets to assistance for the agricultural community which has simply been devastated and wiped out. Five weeks before Christmas businesses have found that their livelihoods are completely gone. Short of a family tragedy, there is nothing worse for a housewife in the country than to see the family home under five feet of water. The Taoiseach knows this from first-hand encounters yesterday. It requires swift, decisive and effective Government action in response.

I know the Cabinet met this morning to discuss the matter and was briefed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Will the Taoiseach tell the House what is the response of the Government and what help is being prepared by it for businesses which have been devastated, owners whose houses have been flooded and are awash with sewage and everything else and farmers whose livelihoods have literally been washed away? What is the Government's response, given the visual evidence the Taoiseach witnessed and the reports of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government?

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