Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Across the country tonight thousands of home owners and businesses are denied access to insurance because of where they live. There are thousands of people at home tonight who are not insured. Even in areas that have undergone significant flood defence improvements, those seeking insurance are often denied it. The absence of flood insurance is not only a matter of grave concern for home owners and their peace of mind but also a very important issue for the lifeblood of the local economy and the communities affected. Businesses that cannot access flood insurance, even if there is little or no risk of flood events given the successful implementation of the schemes, are denied credit from financial institutions and may not be able to expand. The very livelihood of the people involved in the business is under real threat. Small and medium enterprises, SMEs, are the backbone of our economy and need all the support they can get.

I refer to a forecourt on the outskirts of Lismore that sells petrol and diesel. When the River Blackwater burst its banks in January, the tanks containing the diesel and petrol were flooded, with flood water causing damage amounting to €24,000. Luckily, the shop premises were saved. However, it is after the big clean-up when the water recedes when the issues arise. It is trying to win back the support and confidence of one's customers, deal with the claims and make sure that one is sufficiently ensured to face the following year's business.

We all remember the floods of January last and the way people were forced from their homes, for months on end in some cases. In my area of Portlaw, County Waterford, the River Clodiagh burst its banks causing a single home to flood. It was cut off from the main road and three people were trapped in the house.

I do not like making things personal, but my own mother of 79 years was one of those people, and her aunt and uncle. She had been visiting at the time. I was outside and I texted on Facebook, "Please come and help", and the community rallied round. They came from all over. We were there, up to our knees in water, and all of a sudden the banks of the river burst, and at that stage I was waist high in water, with a 79-year-old woman inside and two others aged 75. It was ironic to think that it was a member of the Carrick river rescue who oversaw the evacuation of three people, as the gardaí could not get through the flood. At the same time, the Carrick-on-Suir River Rescue base was flooding when the River Suir burst its banks.

Insurance companies cannot continue to discriminate against homeowners and businesses that are at risk of flooding. Fair treatment is required. All people want is a level playing pitch.

I sat here tonight and listened to everyone, including the Government. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, because he has met a group which came up from Waterford and his office is always open to us.

However, this is the most important document here tonight - the Bill entitled an Act to provide for fairness in the market for property insurance. That says it all. Once again, I would appeal to the Government to let this go to Committee Stage and debate it there, and let it go through the Houses. If necessary, we can improve it.

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