Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will follow earlier precedent, this being my maiden speech, to thank the people of south Tipperary for putting confidence in me to be their legislator and parliamentarian at the national level. I am very much looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead, and I am always conscious of the trust placed in me by the electorate of south Tipperary.

I want to reflect on the role of local authorities having regard to recent weather events, not just Storm Éowyn but also, for example, the cold snap in early January that brought my constituency of south Tipperary to a standstill, leading to unprecedented disruption for communities and, indeed, small businesses across the county. This for me has underscored the need for local authorities to work together and share resources during these adverse weather conditions. Like those who spoke previously, I pay tribute to council workers, utility workers and Civil Defence and community volunteers for their extraordinary efforts during recent weather events. What was evident to me, however, was that local authorities were not as prepared as they should have been.

It is a fact that in many of these weather events, not all counties are impacted. A memorandum of understanding between local authorities would provide for a strong package of supports between local authorities, safeguarding adequate service delivery during adverse challenges such as the recent weather event we have just seen. I give the example of the ESB Networks and the close co-operation that exists between its counterparts across the European Union. As it stands right now, Clare County Council does not come to the assistance of Limerick City and County Council, Limerick City and County Council does not come to the assistance of Tipperary County Council, Tipperary County Council does not come to the assistance of Waterford City and County Council and so on. Practically speaking, it would enable local authorities to share equipment and personnel while sharing good practice across the sector. Where any county or region is disproportionately affected, it should be possible to mobilise additional services from neighbouring local authorities unaffected by the weather event. A memorandum of understanding would give that additional layer of security to local authorities that help will be provided if possible. This needs careful consideration. Increasingly, we are experiencing adverse weather, and an ability to plan and prepare for all disruptions must be prioritised. I call on the Minister of State to engage with the CCMA and the emergency co-ordination response team in this regard. We can often be critical of local authorities, but if we empower them, provide the additional resources they need and ensure closer co-operation, they can deliver with precision and in a timely manner. Local authorities are the first line of defence. As I said, I call for closer co-operation and that memorandum of understanding between local authorities to be given careful consideration.

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