Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill brought forward by my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath. It is the type of action that we really need in this country to deal with the massive problem of flooding. For many years, the State has not taken the matter seriously. Deputy McGrath's Bill, in addition to a number of Bills that will be coming before the Dáil in the coming months, will address the issue the way it should have been addressed many years ago. The whole policy on flooding needs to change. Ireland needs to take into account that there are many changes in weather patterns. There is also a change in the way we deal with flood problems. We have a massive issue right throughout the country on the maintenance of our rivers. Let there be no doubt in anybody's mind that this is a huge issue right around the countryside.

The challenges created by our new circumstances have not been met by the Government. The tagline of once in 100 years is being thrown around in too many debates when it comes to dealing with flooding issues. Rather than once in 100 years events, we all know such events are now happening once in every four, five or six years. Every year or two years a major flooding event occurs somewhere in the country.

Flash flooding that could be attributed to climate change is another challenge not being addressed. Since I was appointed by Deputy Micheál Martin as Fianna Fáil spokesperson for the OPW and flooding issues I have been studying many situations throughout the country. I can visualise the thousands of acres of land that were flooded last spring, the families whose homes were flooded and the businesses that were destroyed. The more I visualise, the more I am convinced that at that time the Government should have declared a state of emergency. That is what would have happened in England, France, Italy or anywhere else, but it did not happen in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil is now introducing a suite of Bills in a genuine bid to deal with the hardship caused to people because of the changing climate circumstances and the way we are dealing with these issues in respect of maintenance of major rivers and drains.

In March 2014 a memorandum of understanding between the Office of Public Works and the insurance industry was signed. That memorandum of understanding provided a forum for both organisations to work together to share data required by the industry and to inform the assessment of risk. Rather than an obligation on the insurance industry, it creates an information exchange to allow those in the sector to appraise the risk involved. That is simply not good enough. We need to step up to the mark. The Government needs to step up to the mark. The only way this can be handled is through legislation.

The OPW has provided details of all schemes completed to date and Insurance Ireland is obliged to provide detailed information on the numbers with flood insurance in these areas. Of particular interest is the data on numbers reinsured after the completion of flood defence schemes. However, the level of insurance and reinsurance has been low. A significant number of households and businesses remain without cover. Simply put, the Government policy is not working and it must be changed.

I am dealing with many families who have issues with insurance. Their difficulty is not only with flooding in the past. They are being refused on the basis that the premises in question might flood in future. Where millions of euro of public money has been spent on comprehensive once in 100 years flood defence systems, the insurance companies must take the changes into account. The Government must stand over the CFRAM reports. In this way, where work is completed, homes can avail of insurance once again.

I am getting indications that the Government will not support this Bill. However, I appeal to the Government to allow this Bill to move to the next stage. The Government owes it to the people in the Gallery and the thousands of people throughout the country who have suffered untold hardship over many years. It is now time that we dealt with this issue seriously.

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