Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Michael McGrath and all of my colleagues who spoke on this important Bill. I acknowledge the announcement of the Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran-Kennedy, that the Government will not oppose it proceeding to scrutiny on Committee Stage.

I was concerned, because I heard some of the remarks on the monitor in my office, at the manner of some contributions. The scripts, and in the manner in which they were delivered, do not reflect the Deputies' personal views. The scripts and the message from the Government suggest - I also got this from previous debates on insurance - that the Government has been captured by the insurance industry and that the insurance industry agenda is first and foremost in its thoughts. I know that not to be the way for the Minister of State personally, but that is the impression that was given here during the course of the debate this evening.

Many of my colleagues and others here, both in the Chamber and in the Gallery, know what it is like to have one's house or business flooded and know the aftermath, but I wonder if the executives of these insurance companies know what it is like. Do they know what it is like not to sleep for months on end with the fear that every heavy shower of rain will end up inside in one's living room or business porch, and when every shower of rain that comes adds to the level of the river that will inevitably come inside one's house? Even if one is lucky enough to have had a defence mechanism in place and to have taxpayer investment into one's community, one still cannot be guaranteed insurance by a private insurance company even with the benefit of that taxpayers' investment, is appalling and is a dereliction of duty on all of our parts. However, if one is among those communities that have yet to get to the stage of having that major investment and of having that scheme put in, one has not a hope of getting insurance. In fact, one has been left exposed because of last year's events, and one could be left exposed for many years.

I acknowledge the work the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and Deputy Moran have brought to the OPW since they took up their positions. Much of the success of that work lies in the minor works scheme that is being delivered by the OPW and, on the ground, by local authorities.

There is still a considerable delay in delivering the large schemes. I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, last week answering OPW questions from Deputy Brendan Smith, where, once again, the pearl mussel came up. I refer to the pearl mussel that has obstructed progress in Crossmolina. The same pearl mussel is obstructing progress in County Cavan as well. It struck me that we are putting the interests of species and things that can be controlled before that of people and communities.

We have asked on several occasions for the OPW to go back to the traditional dredging. I refer to the traditional cleaning of rivers that was done well, and with respect for the environment, in our parents' time and grandparents' time, but while there is political belief in that - the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, believes in it - it seems the OPW can say "No", and it appears nobody wants to take the office on.

My party, led by Deputies Eugene Murphy and Troy, has proposed a Shannon river authority, but I think the time has come for one single river authority in Ireland because, time and time again, State agency plays off Stage agency. The OPW blames the EPA, which blames the local authorities which blame the ESB and in the end, homes, people and families get flooded and cannot get insurance. What we have got to do is stop the blame culture, and actually get a bit of action. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and Deputy Moran will do it.

This weekend is the first anniversary of Storm Desmond. Were it to happen again this weekend, the damage would be as great and as impactful and families and communities would again be on the streets. We cannot stand by quietly and allow that happen. We most certainly cannot stand by and allow the interests of the insurance industry take precedence over that of our communities, our people and our small businesses around the country. It is time to stand by people and to leave the insurance industry and the interests of profit aside, put the interests of our people and our communities first; the insurance industry will be well able to look after itself.

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