Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Two issues arise. My first question was about those people who had not been able to get insurance, but the Taoiseach has totally avoided that issue. I am advised that some people thought they were insured for flood damage, but they discovered that they were not. Others cannot obtain insurance. The same happened in Dublin a year or two ago and I ask the Taoiseach to focus on that question. It is not the people's fault that their homes have been devastated. How will they replace their possessions, including furniture, television sets, carpets, beds, bedding and linen?

My second question was about the State's response. The Government does not appear to be capable of engaging in strategic planning. During the fodder crisis last year Sinn Féin argued that the Government needed to put in place contingency plans to deal with the consequences of severe weather. However, it does not appear to have been done on this occasion. The Office of Public Works has already undertaken a risk assessment of coastal erosion. The onus appears to be on local authorities to sort out this problem. The Taoiseach mentioned the sum of €15 million. Pardon the pun, but €15 million is a drop in the ocean. As the Government has taken €320 million from the local government fund, how can local authorities deal with a crisis with these dimensions? It is always the same old story - there is lots of money for consultants.

Irony of ironies, these are consultants in Uisce Éireann. There is money for bankers and politicians but none for citizens in need. My initial question was about the folks who, through no fault of their own, are not insured. Will they be assisted by the Government? What about strategic planning? How can we take the Taoiseach seriously if he has not put in place any of the contingencies when we already know there will be more severe weather in the time ahead?

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