Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We need to work on a scheme of flood protection for the country as a whole. We must change some of our approaches to planning to ensure we do not build permanent structures in areas which are continually subject to flooding on a five to ten-year cycle. That is a nightmare for the people involved. We must revert to local authorities and say they have a responsibility in their approach to planning.

See this speech in context