Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has repeatedly said on the airwaves that we can never be prepared for every contingency or eventuality, which is true. However, that is to miss the essential point in this debate that contingency plans, flood relief mapping and preparation can prevent a problem from becoming a crisis. In essence, what we are experiencing is a crisis and a national emergency. In my opinion, the response has been in many ways too little, too late. That what we are experiencing is a crisis must be recognised. Many people have literally lost everything. Every major city has been affected by flooding.

It is fair to say that these events are not unparalleled or unexpected. They may be worse than other weather problems we have experienced but the signs that these problems were going to arise were there for all to see. We had flooding crises in 2002, 2009 and 2011, which means the gap is narrowing. Extreme weather events are now occurring with greater frequency and intensity than at any time during the past century and a half and the commencement of global climate recording. It should not be forgotten that it was as a result of flooding a number of years ago that a nurse died in a basement and an off-duty garda was killed in Wicklow. The question that must be posed is what we have we learned and what new steps have been taken.

The flood relief section of the OPW has not recruited any permanent engineers as a result of the recruitment embargo in the public sector. This must be taken into account. Perhaps the Minister of State will tell us how many skilled expert staff have left the OPW and not been replaced. I am aware that every year the OPW takes on a number of graduates, who it trains over a three year period. At the end of their training, however, they then go on to assist in the development of another economy. Why can they not remain in Ireland? I note that according to the clock my time has expired. However, I do not believe I have been speaking for five minutes.

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