George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to speak in support of the motion. As members of Dáil Éireann, we stand here this evening not just as a voice for our businesses, farmers and communities, but as advocates for the great resilience and spirit that define our nation. It is essential that we learn lessons. In recent years, we have witnessed the devastating impact of severe weather events, such as floods, storms and snowstorms that have wreaked havoc on our agricultural community, local enterprises and community in general.

In recent weeks, and following other devastating weather events in Ireland, we have seen a trail of emotional devastation that often goes unnoticed amidst the physical destruction. The psychological impact on individuals and communities has been profound and would be long-lasting for those most severely affected. It will affect their mental health and overall well-being. In the immediate aftermath of these weather events, the last thing people who are affected need is the trauma and difficulty of dealing with applications that are complicated, with forms needing to be filled in and statutory agencies which seem to require more and more. This is especially true for those in our communities who are vulnerable, elderly or need an extra little bit of support.

The sudden loss of homes, possessions, property, equipment and livelihoods can lead to a huge sense of helplessness. We have already listened to people in isolated areas call out their feelings of helplessness and deep frustration as they navigate the chaos and uncertainty that follows such an event. Their emotional toll is compounded by the disruption of their social networks and community support systems. The extended loss of power, water and communication systems has left them with a sense of abandonment. This should never be the case in the Ireland that we all aspire to serve in.

We have also, sadly, seen a loss of life as a result of storm and its aftermath. We can only begin to imagine the dreadful impact that these tragic deaths have had on the families and communities affected. Our sympathies go to them all. These people and communities simply cannot be expected to deal with the trauma they are experiencing while at the same time possibly having to deal with red tape and bureaucracy as they attempt to rebuild physically and emotionally.

The elderly, vulnerable and those in need of specialist services and equipment cannot be expected to live or act normally without the immediately required State services and interventions. It behoves us to do better.

While my county escaped relatively unscathed in comparison to other areas, Wexford has seen devastating weather events over the years. Storm Emma, or the beast from the east, as it was called, created havoc when we were left without power and water for extended periods. Only for the heroic actions of our emergency services and local authority workers at that time, the impact and damage would have been much more sustained.

Christmas Day 2021 will live long in the memory of the people of Bridgetown and Duncormick as a result of the devastating flooding of homes. In late 2022, a tornado ripped through the villages of Foulksmills and Clongeen in south Wexford, causing hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage to farms, in particular. I know from dealing with people affected at that time that the response in terms of aid was far from satisfactory, with people to this day still endeavouring to recover financially.

The people of Enniscorthy live in annual fear that the River Slaney will burst its banks and once again inundate Island Road and Templeshannon with floodwater, destroying homes and businesses for the want of a decades-long promised flood relief defence scheme. Wexford town has also seen serious flooding incidents over the years.

These events are not merely statistics. They are the stories of our neighbours, friends and families. They are the lifeblood of our economy and are in desperate need of our attention and, more important at this time, our actions.

It is clear that we must confront the stark reality. Our current response mechanisms to these crises are absolutely inadequate. Time and again, we have seen businesses and farms struggle to recover from the aftermath of extreme weather. They face not only the physical destruction of their properties, but also the emotional toll of uncertainty and despair. Our patchwork of ad hoc responses, while well-intentioned, is simply not enough. It is beyond time for us to establish a permanent statutory response mechanism that provides consistent and reliable support for those affected by these disasters.

One of the components of this motion calls for the expansion of the humanitarian assistance scheme to include businesses, sporting clubs, voluntary organisations and community groups which have been impacted by the storm, as happened after Storm Babet. We fully support this call. Given the nature of the climate change that is happening on a regular and much more frequent basis and, indeed, a much more severe basis, if our experience of Storm Éowyn is anything to go by, then the notion of an ad hoc or an incident-by-incident approach is not acceptable. Communities, businesses and our farmers simply cannot be expected to wait for a scheme approval on each occasion that they suffer the severe impacts we witnessed just a couple of weeks ago.

We need an active mechanism to be available to people when they are at their most vulnerable in order to allow them to get back onto their feet as quickly as possible. We need such a mechanism because, first and foremost, we must recognise that climate change is not a distant threat; rather, it is an absolute present reality. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing. Farmers, small local enterprises and communities are often on the front lines. They are the ones who face the brunt of these challenges and deserve more than temporary relief measures that come too late and often fall too short. Imagine a business owner who has invested years of hard work in building up their businesses and creating local employment, only to see their livelihood and that of their employees washed or blown away in a single storm. Imagine a small shop owner who, after a lifetime of dedication, finds their shop flooded, something which happened regularly in Enniscorthy, and their livelihoods threatened. A farmer may have borrowed money to improve their output and holding, only to see that destroyed. These scenarios are not hypothetical. They are the lived experiences of countless individuals over many years across Ireland.

We cannot afford to leave these people to fend for themselves in the wake of disaster. A permanent statutory response mechanism would provide a structured and predictable framework for support. It would ensure that assistance is not a matter of chance or bureaucratic delays, but rather a fundamental right for those who have suffered loss due to severe weather. This mechanism should encompass financial aid, technical support and resources for rebuilding and recovery. It should be designed with input from the very communities it serves, ensuring that the solutions we implement are tailored to the unique needs of those who have suffered. One size does not fit all.

This statutory mechanism must prioritise sustainability and resilience.

It is not enough to simply rebuild what was lost; we must invest in the future. By incorporating climate adaptation strategies and promoting sustainable practices, we can help our farmers, our businesses and our communities not only recover but also thrive in the face of the undoubted future challenges. This is not merely an act of charity; it is an investment in the backbone of our economy. Let us remember that our response to these crises reflects our values as a society. We are a nation that prides itself on community, solidarity and support for one another. When a neighbour suffers, we all suffer. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind in the wake of disaster.

I urge the Minister to advocate, as a matter of urgency, for the establishment of a permanent Statutory response mechanism for businesses, farms and communities affected by these severe weather events. We can work together to create a system that is not only reactive but proactive; a system that embodies our commitment to resilience, sustainability and communities. Our farmers, our businesses and the communities to which I refer deserve nothing less.

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