Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two items, although at this point one wonders about the value of raising questions on promised legislation. Given the consistent and horrendous flooding families have been experiencing in recent times, will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government is investigating the implementation of a Bill similar to the UK Water Act 2014? This matter was raised in the House last week by my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin. As the Taoiseach knows, such legislation would allow home owners and businesses in areas prone to flooding to obtain insurance cover at a reasonable price. It would also require the State to be directly involved in a joint approach. Will the Taoiseach confirm that something is happening in that regard? We heard some positive soundings on the matter from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney. Will the Taoiseach also confirm the type of insurance model that will be introduced for persons who have been adversely affected by the floods?

As regards the Constitutional Convention's outstanding reports, the Government has accepted recommendations on the holding of referenda on blasphemy, reducing the voting age and the setting up of an electoral commission. For several months many Members have been raising these issues and we were given firm assurances that we would have an opportunity to debate the three outstanding reports before Christmas. However, that has not come to pass. Is there some prospect that these matters will be prioritised if we return in January? All of us but particularly the citizen members were enormously proud to be given an opportunity to participate in the convention. It is a considerable disappointment, therefore, that the House has not adhered to the timelines the Taoiseach himself set for us to consider all of these reports.

See this speech in context