Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As the Minister, Deputy Gormley, stated at the outset, the Copenhagen conference is one of the most widely anticipated peace time events. This anticipation reflects the seriousness of the threat presented by climate change and the urgency of reaching agreement on an effective global response. I believe it is timely and useful to hear the views from both sides of the House and I welcome the strong support voiced for a positive outcome to the Copenhagen conference.

In summary, we need and must press to reach agreement on a global and comprehensive legally binding treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol with effect from 2013. There can be no gap in the international response to climate change and all parties, countries and elements must play their part. Deputy Barrett referred to the fact that international action lags behind. I believe everybody in the House agrees with him. If we do not underpin the need for a new treaty that broadens the scope and effectiveness of the international response to climate change in the post-2012 period, we will not have served the needs of mankind at this time.

It must be acknowledged that Ireland has fully and consistently supported the EU proactively and in its leadership in the international climate change process. That position stands and we will play our part in seeking to influence a positive and effective outcome at Copenhagen. A fully fledged legally binding agreement may not be possible. It may take a little longer to get that result but the parties must take a significant incremental step towards that end.

It has been interesting to hear the debate on all sides, informed to some extent by the effects of the flooding in recent weeks, initially more severe in the west and south and more recently in Kildare and surrounding counties. People have been quick to point to some of the deficiencies that have led to the difficulties that have arisen. It is important to point out that in virtually all of the areas which were badly affected, the level of rainfall was considerably higher than previous levels in those areas, in some instances dramatically higher, and not always over a wide area. It is interesting that in County Clare we generally look to the weather results from Shannon. Even though Ennis is only 15 miles from Shannon, the level of rainfall there was approximately 50% higher than in Shannon. This was a factor in the difficulties which hit Ennis. Subsequently, a much larger catchment along the Shannon basin right up to the northern end, including Leitrim to Limerick city, was affected. All kinds of challenges are posed arising from this. There is almost universal agreement that the extraordinary high levels of rainfall are an element of climate change. This has occurred much sooner than many of us might have anticipated and is certainly much more dramatic than people were prepared for.

On the other hand, it is true to say that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and various Ministers down through the years, back to pre-Kyoto times, have been considering ways to address the threats posed by climate change. Many people who have considered the strategy put forward by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government seven or eight years ago are impressed by how well placed it was in terms of predicting what we needed to do. Heretofore, the emphasis has tended to be on coastal communities and the likelihood that the melting of the polar ice-caps would raise sea levels. There seems to be an indication that an interim problem is arising much sooner in terms of increased levels of rainfall. Of course, what is impossible to predict is whether this incidence is likely to recur at long intervals, say, 60, 70 or 100 years or a new pattern that is likely to be repeated more frequently at, say, five, six, seven or ten-year intervals. In either case, there is a particular challenge facing us.

Many Deputies pointed to the level of building on flood plains. There is no doubt that houses have been built in places previously flooded. At the same time, on this particular occasion floods occurred in parts of the west never before flooded. This must be taken into account in terms of future planning. The type of flooding that occurs is very much influenced by the topography of an area and by geology. In the Burren, because of the underground systems of drainage, one cannot see where the rivers are. It is difficult to know where the swallow holes and other geographical features are and, as such, it is difficult to predict where water may come up through the ground. There are changing patterns in this regard as seen in the Ardrahan area of south Galway during the past week when seven or eight days after the heavy rainfall had stopped, flood levels rose dramatically in one particular area. While these can drop off fairly quickly, winter water levels in the turloughs are likely to remain for several months, an issue which we must consider carefully. Thankfully we have people who have a great deal of expertise in this area, including hydrologists and others, who have been of enormous assistance.

The role played by the emergency services has been, in my experience, extraordinary. People have worked 24 hours a day for several days to achieve a successful outcome to the challenge posed.

Tomorrow I will be taking in the House the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 which seeks to transfer responsibility for foreshore in respect of major projects to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. That legislation brings together the planning function on land with planning functions on the foreshore. This is an important precursor to addressing many of the issues we will face in terms of maritime and seaside defences, in particular in built-up areas which may be a lot nearer to many of us than we think.

Deputy Ulick Burke, whose constituency was badly affected by the flooding, outlined the concerns people have and the received wisdom that places the blame for the flooding, to some extent, on planning decisions. However, the level of rainfall was an enormous factor and there should be a general acknowledgement among the population that this is a function of climate change occurring more quickly than has been the case heretofore. The mitigation measures outlined in the climate change strategy published by the Department some years ago showed a degree of foresight. It is the type of strategy that is needed to address that area.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd concentrated on transport. When one sees the levels of emissions from transport one must admit there is considerable urgency about dealing with that issue. It seems likely that the resolution for the transport issue lies in two directions. One, which the Deputy outlined in some detail, is public transport. That is an important element, but in the backs of our minds we all hold the suspicion that western society, and particularly Irish society, has become wedded to the motor car. According to the best current scientific knowledge, the way to enable that to continue in the future is to concentrate on electrically powered cars.

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