Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Eugene Murphy for proposing this motion. I represent the city of Limerick, which has experienced a number of floods in recent years. As we discuss this issue this evening, families across the country are struggling to recover from the devastation caused by flooding. Many households and businesses remain unable to access flood insurance and others have not yet received any compensation. I believe the Government's response to flooding has been chaotic. Its plans for flood defences are woefully inadequate.  Its dithering on the question of securing insurance has left homes and businesses vulnerable to further devastation this winter. The bottom line is that if insurance companies are not prepared to provide cover, the Government has a responsibility to fill the gap and support families and businesses.

I would like to speak about the structural and administrative issues relating to the effective management of water levels along the River Shannon. I agree with the call for the removal of statutory impediments to allow for the proper regulation of water levels. There are too many public bodies and authorities in charge of the river. This has resulted in a chaotic situation, particularly at times of emergency. A massive flood devastated the King's Island area of Limerick in February 2014, and Castleconnell barely escaped massive flooding in 2015, but no flood defences exist in those areas at present. Today marks the first anniversary of the flood in the Richmond Park area of Corbally. Memories of the uncertainty regarding who was responsible for that flood are still fresh. In that instance, a gate needed to be opened but nobody seemed to know who was in charge. Bizarrely, no one knew who had the key to open the canal lock. One could not make this stuff up. It is clear that the 1934 legislation giving the ESB the right to set river levels is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. Just 2% of this country's power is now generated by the Ardnacrusha Dam. At the same time, mass urbanisation of the countryside has become the norm. After 92 years, it is long past time to introduce legislation that is fit for purpose in modern Ireland. Our aim must be to protect the river as an important natural resource while utilising its power and energy in a way that protects the environment, its hinterland and the homes and the livelihoods of the people living in its proximity.

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