Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We 100% agree with the Deputy on that. We have schemes and have announced additional funding to put flooding schemes in place all over the country. There have been objections to flooding schemes on environmental and other grounds. In my view, there comes a point in all of these processes when common sense should prevail and balance and perspective should be applied. Above all, protecting people in their homes should be the priority and protecting their capacity to earn a livelihood should matter. I genuinely believe that with climate change, the flooding issue is going to get much worse. That is the real challenge. We need very significant interventions over the next while to deal with this issue.

See this speech in context