Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and community of Michael O'Riordan, a linesman, who was killed while trying to restore utility services to households cut off during the storm. I also express our deepest sympathy to the families of the two visitors to our land who were apparently swept out to sea as they viewed the majesty and power of a raging ocean. All of us who saw the pictures of people being taken from their homes in boats, businesses being destroyed by rivers of water and green farmlands being formed into lakes can only feel the deepest of sympathy for those involved. It is hard to envisage a more heart-breaking scenario, but, thankfully, there were few deaths as a result of the storms.

The storms also showed some good, positive actions. We must all commend the work of local communities which banded and bonded together to fight the forces of nature which threatened to destroy their homes, businesses and belongings. We should also commend front-line emergency workers, voluntary organisations, the ESB, telephone and council workmen who worked all hours to help people to deal with the crisis. I even commend the Government for its action in arranging to proactively seek out those citizens most in need of emergency assistance and using organisations such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to administer and co-ordinate support for those most in need. That was good action taken by the Government, for which it should be commended.

The flooding highlights deficiencies in local government. Flooding is a national problem that must be tackled at a local level. It is very difficult for the Government or the Office for Public Works to draw up a definitive list of projects that need to be carried out quickly. That is the information that is only held at local authority level, but local authorities have seen their ability to address the problems caused by severe weather and flooding diminished by cuts to their funding. The irony is that the local government fund is being used to subvent Uisce Éireann. This is the type of situation one would expect to find in a satirical comedy sketch: local government funds being spent to charge people for access to water as it is literally pouring into homes and businesses through every orifice. The effect of cuts to local government spending can be clearly seen and perhaps the Government will now row back, if members will forgive the pun, on its attack on local government and implement real local government reforms.

The recent flooding damage both in Ireland and other European countries has again sparked a debate on whether we are taking the issue of climate change seriously. As Sinn Féin spokesperson on communications, energy and natural resources, I have repeatedly called for a national energy strategy. Such a strategy is essential to reduce our CO2 emissions. Not only do we have targets to reach by 2020 as set out by the European Union, Ireland should also be taking the lead in the development of renewable energy resources. I am glad that the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, recently announced that he was to launch a Green Paper on energy strategy. The climate change debate must take place in this Chamber because even a small change in sea levels could put many parts of the country seriously at risk. It is an issue that the Government must take seriously or we will pay for our mistakes each winter as storms batter the coast.

It is also worth noting that the recent flooding demonstrates the power contained in the seas off our vast coastline. Imagine if we could harness some of the energy from tidal and hydro sources; we have the chance to reduce our CO2 emissions by using the very power of nature we have been battling.

The problem many people face stems from the inability to obtain insurance for their property against flooding. A standard home insurance policy will offer flood protection as a routine benefit. However, if one has been hit by floods in the past, renewing such a policy will become considerably more difficult, if possible at all. More likely than not, an insurance company will not renew a policy if someone has been flooded and if it does, it will not offer flood protection. That is very worrying for those who live in areas prone to flooding. Even if a home has not been flooded previously, it can be excluded from coverage if it is in an area prone to flooding. This has huge implications for homeowners who may find it very difficult to sell a property that is at risk of flooding and cannot guarantee that it will be able to be insured.

Many businesses also suffer. They not only run the risk of structural damage caused by flooding, but they may also lose a large amount of stock that will not be covered by insurance companies.

It is probably a hangover of the Celtic tiger era that so many properties were built on flood plains. It is clear that proper action was not taken by developers to ensure they did not construct buildings in areas prone to flooding.

However, we must deal with the situation that we currently face. The Government must help home and business owners to find insurance cover. Insurance companies must, in turn, accept an element of public service obligation. Agricultural land must also be protected from flood waters. The farming community stands to lose a massive amount of fodder and agricultural land if the recent flooding becomes a regular occurrence. Many farmers are willing to carry out work themselves to erect flood defences but they are prevented from doing so due to bureaucratic regulations. Indeed, they can be financially penalised if they do such work.

Those of us who live in the north west did not, thankfully, experience the level of damage suffered in more unfortunate areas of the country. However, some homes and businesses were damaged and seaside tourist areas such as Enniscrone, Easkey, Strandhill, Rosses Point and Bundoran suffered significant structural damage, which will have to be put right before the tourist season commences in Easter. More than two months ago in Leitrim village, a river burst its banks near a housing estate. This was reported on several occasions but nothing was done about it. The same thing happened in 2009. All sorts of promises were made but zero action has ensued. These homes are once again threatened by severe flooding. We cannot blame the weather in this instance. Where flood risk is known, it should be manageable. It is wrong to leave people fearful that the next heavy rainfall will cause their homes to be flooded.

In addition to repairs and restoration, we also need to move into a preventive mode by improving our defences. We cannot afford to do this on our own. We will need substantial EU aid. Perhaps we should consider making a joint approach with our colleagues in the Stormont Assembly. We may not reach the threshold for EU funding on the basis of 26 counties but we might do so on a 32-county basis. I make that suggestion in an effort to be helpful.

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