Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, her answer is more than comprehensive. I have not read it all into the record but the Deputy has it. I will give her wrap-up statement. I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue and I reassure the House that the Government is keenly aware of ongoing climate issues affecting citizens across the country. We will continue to have a whole-of-Government approach to this matter to put in place preventative measures, including flooding defences, to protect against future extreme weather events.

On the wider work on climate insurance, the Central Bank of Ireland and the Department of Finance continue to focus on ensuring that the financial system is resilient to climate-related risk and is capable of supporting the transition to a carbon neutral future. This important policy issue is the subject of consideration at EU and international level. The Department is monitoring any proposed evidence-based solutions and will continue to review possible policy options. The Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will continue to compel the insurance industry to be responsive and fair to policyholders impacted by recent flooding and storm-related damage.

I reiterate the Government's commitment to the two emergency business flooding schemes for small businesses, sports clubs and community and voluntary organisations unable to secure flood insurance in areas affected by recent flooding in Counties Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny and Louth. The schemes provide humanitarian support contributions towards the costs of returning small businesses and voluntary and community premises to their pre-flood conditions, including the replacement of flooding fixtures and fittings, and damaged stock, where relevant.

I agree with what the Deputy says and there is a wider conversation to be had on insurance. Living along the banks of the Shannon for years, we have been inundated with exactly what the Deputy has outlined and we did not get the support we felt we needed.

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