Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I extend my sympathy to the family of Garda Ciaran Jones, who tragically lost his life. I also extend my sympathy to his parents, brother, sisters, the wider Kilbride community and to the GAA community in Wicklow, of which Ciaran was one of the leading lights. I also sympathise with the family, relatives and friends of the Filipina lady who died and with the Filipino community in Ireland.

The Minister, Deputy Brian Hayes, has put a great deal of time and effort into the provision of funding for flood relief since he took office, but my main concern is the emergency response to the sudden flooding. This is more appropriate to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Justice and Equality than to the Minister with responsibility for the OPW. Notwithstanding that, I am very angry about this. A number of weeks ago I raised the issue in the House. I spoke in the House after the last big freeze in Dublin when there was chaos. Although I do not have any empirical evidence, yesterday's events were a shambles on the part of the authorities.

I was an hour away from Dublin yesterday, in Wicklow, but at 6 p.m. I knew there was chaos in Dublin and that something had to be done about it. At 6.50 p.m. I was so worried that I telephoned the newsroom in RTE to ask that the station broadcast an alert about the dangers with bridges and small rivers. People who were out in the weather had contacted me and told me it was frightening and dangerous. Only they realised how serious it was, but there was no response. I spoke to people who left Dublin at 4 p.m. yesterday to travel via Jobstown and the Embankment and they told me it was chaotic. I spoke to a lady on the telephone at 6 p.m. She was at Jobstown and at 8 p.m. she was still there, driving around in circles. She had seen no sign of a garda, a fire brigade or ambulance. There was nobody to direct her. When I drove in this morning there was a report the road was closed off. There was a Garda van parked across the road but there were no directions as to where one should go. One had only to look at the surrounding green areas to see the chaos and fear that existed last night, but nothing was done about it.

It is very difficult to merge services that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and services that finish at 5 p.m. I ask the Chairman to bear with me on this issue because I am tired-----

See this speech in context