Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am here to work with others on what has been learned out of this, how we ensure that there is not a continuous situation where trees that can damage power lines are left in place and how we can better respond to the needs of people in terms of getting power back to them more quickly, and ensuring there are generators at all the Irish Water sites so that clean water is pumped to the sites. Those are all important.

As the Taoiseach said earlier today, there was one life lost. That is one too many. This could have been catastrophic. It was not catastrophic because of the planning that was done and the direction that was given from central government in terms of recognising the state of the problem.

I would like to think we could have a debate in a couple of weeks' time, when the Deputy will not be playing to the local media agenda or the deadlines of local newspapers. Maybe it could be done at committee, where we can be more reflective in putting in place a plan that will work. On those issues that the Deputy has identified and learned, let the Deputy be part of that too.

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