Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a newly elected TD and a republican, I thank the people of Roscommon-Galway for placing their trust in me. It is an incredible honour and I take this responsibility seriously. I thank my family, friends and campaigners for their support. I rise today to speak on behalf of my constituents in Roscommon-Galway who are deeply frustrated and upset in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. The storm resulted in a blanket loss of power, water and communications. Families were left without heat, unable to contact emergency services and were cut off from the basic necessities. The most vulnerable in our communities, older people, the sick, and isolated rural residents have suffered the most. Businesses and farmers have been devastated. Many are still without power and their frustration is justified. It is our responsibility to ensure that their concerns are not just heard but are acted upon.

At the same time, I acknowledge those on the ground: community volunteers; the remarkable farming community who cleared trees from the roads before anyone else was even moving; ESB crews and their international teams; local authority workers; community and primary care teams; and the emergency hubs. Their dedication is commendable. However, Storm Éowyn has exposed systemic weaknesses that must be addressed. We have seen a lack of consistency in how local authorities, Intreo offices and community welfare officers responded. In spite of clear direction from An Taoiseach for maximum flexibility in dealing with distressed citizens, constituents have had vastly different experiences, leading to confusion and delays. Emergency responses must be uniform, efficient and proactive. ESB Networks corporate must also provide answers. In a meeting last week with its senior management team I specifically asked about its risk management and infrastructure audit protocols but could get no answers. Answers are needed. Forestry and tree husbandry seem, on the face of it, to have been neglected by ESB Networks management. Approximately 80% of the outages were as a result of fallen trees. We need an urgent audit of tree lines near power infrastructure, and forestry corridors established in the national interest. We need transparency, investment in infrastructure and a clear plan to prevent a repeat of this crisis.

Water supply resilience was also a major concern. Uisce Éireann and our group water schemes must be generator-ready. Too many communities were left without access to life-supporting clean water. This cannot happen again. Healthcare services were also severely impacted, particularly GP clinics whose network is the backbone of health services throughout the country. While hospitals have back-up generators, GP surgeries were left without power and telecommunications. This is unacceptable. The HSE must conduct a full audit and ensure that GP clinics have robust power, water and telecommunications systems and backups.

I am calling for the establishment of inter-agency task force to ensure proper emergency planning across all State bodies. The people of Roscommon-Galway and communities across the country deserve not just words but action. Let us make sure that the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn leads to real, meaningful change.

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