Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To respond to the Deputy's first question, I have already said a memorandum of understanding has been signed for quite some time between the Office of Public Works and the insurance companies. The purpose is to share information on flood risk and how it might be factored into the commercial assessments made by insurance companies. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has referred to the necessity to put in place a much more sophisticated weather forecasting and flood warning system which would be of benefit to everybody, including business premises, private dwellings and the agri-sector. I have given a commitment that the issue will be looked at, but what was introduced in Britain would not be suitable here because houses completed since 2009 were left out, as were small businesses. In Bandon, Athlone, Crossmolina and elsewhere most of those affected are small shopkeepers and other retailers. One cannot have a situation where they would be left out. There is no intention to set out on a course to introduce further insurance levies.

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