Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the House about the flooding and storm damage that has occurred throughout the country in the past month or so. I believe there has been a certain degree of complacency and a lack of urgency on the Government side in respect of the preparation and prevention mechanisms that could have been put in place. Irrespective of the arguments for and against climate change, it appears there has been a significant pattern of climate change given the significant flooding events in various counties. Certainly this year there have been significant events in Galway, Limerick, Cork and elsewhere as well as throughout the country today. I say as much without endeavouring to make a political point. However, it seems to me that there is a basic lack of any sense of urgency to deal with the issue. The catchment flood risk assessment and management studies are dragging on too long. They have been going on for years at this stage examining proper preventative measures that should be put in place for tidal situations or flooding. I do not believe we are seized enough of the gravity of the situation and the potential for even more damage in future.

I pay warm tribute to all the public sector workers, including those working within the ESB, local councils throughout the country and voluntary rescue teams, who have been helping people who have got into difficulty, some in fatal circumstances. We welcome the work they are doing at the front line and they deserve great credit. Today, they are working in extremely hazardous and difficult conditions. I understand up to 100,000 homes are now without electricity in what is a ferocious storm throughout the south west. From what we hear, it is moving up the country at this stage.

We know that where preventative measures are put in place it can have an appreciable impact. "Prime Time" broadcast a programme on Clonmel. An investment of up to €150 million was made and it has had an impact in terms of the defences and barriers that can be put up, along with proper flood warning and diverting measures, preventing the flooding of the commercial and residential centre of the town. Recently, I was in Mallow. In the midst of bad weather the flood scheme in the town was effective in protecting the centre and this was also the case in Fermoy.

That illustrates what can be done but more urgency is needed to get on with coastal protection and protection of cities and towns from tides and rivers bursting their banks. More has to be done than just praying for better weather. Last week, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brian Hayes, said the Government did not have the money. That is what I mean about a complacent mindset. Three months ago the same man said we could look forward to tax cuts. This is what happens. The people are told things are getting better and the Government parties have decided to promise tax cuts because local elections are coming and there will be a general election by 2016 saying, "No matter how bad things are we will have a few tax cuts for you by 2016". However, when the storm damage erupted, the Minister of State said it will add 10% to people's tax bills to sort everything out. That is incoherent.

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