Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

At the outset I acknowledged the response of the local authorities, voluntary bodies and communities. I also acknowledged that the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government visited a number of affected areas in recent days. All I am doing is highlighting a number of matters in respect of which attention is required.

I accept that some insurance companies have responded quickly to people's needs. However, I have been contacted by individuals whose insurance companies are reluctant to provide cover because their premises or properties were flooded on previous occasions. I have also been contacted by those whose mortgages are in arrears and who are concerned with regard to what will happen because their mortgage and insurance payments are tied together. Further, I have been contacted by business people who are concerned about getting their operations up and running again, restocking their shelves, etc., in order that they might capitalise on increases in trade in the period leading up to Christmas. This aspect of the matter must be addressed and someone in the Government should enter discussions with the insurance companies in the interests of ensuring that there will be no blockages in the system.

My other question relates to flood protection works. I do not know if it is ever possible for people's lives to return to normal following events such as those which have occurred in recent days. While one might clean out and return to live in one's house or get one's business up and running again, the fear always remains that one's property will be flooded in the future. The only way concerns in this regard will be allayed is if people are informed that flood protection works will be put in place.

The Government should accelerate the programme of flood protection works. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Martin Mansergh, gave a number of interviews in recent days during which he outlined the different stages at which various flood protection works currently stand. Such works should be accelerated in order that people might have as much peace of mind as possible to the effect that everything necessary is being done and that if there is a recurrence of the recent bad weather, the effects of it will be minimised.

See this speech in context