Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

We have learned from experience. There is now a most definite body of information built up, upon which we can draw and which no doubt will add to the body of information which will be of great value - I did not get three minutes at all - in 100 years' time whenever there will be Dáil Deputies here debating equally miserable periods of weather.

They never spoke of meitheal and co-operation and people who suddenly got to know their neighbours who went and helped them. Of course there were some terrible experiences, but there were also some good heartening co-operative experiences where people just got out and did it, helped their neighbours, cleared their paths and got going.

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