Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 2: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the review of the severe weather events which was due to be completed by 1 November 2010; when he will attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government to discuss the Committee's own report and recommendations on the severe weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44487/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The response to a severe weather event generally involves cross-departmental co-ordination and collaboration. My Department undertook the role of lead Department by chairing national level co-ordination in the case of last winter's severe weather events with local responses being undertaken by the principal response agencies in accordance with the major emergency management framework.

Following these events, the Departments and agencies involved reviewed their experiences in terms of the lessons learned and these are now being considered further having regard to their completeness under the aegis of the government task force on emergency planning. Departments and agencies represented on the task force are engaged in a range of associated work under five strands, as follows: national co-ordination; flood forecasting; road maintenance issues; humanitarian assistance; and major emergency management framework issues.

In relation to the major emergency management framework, a detailed report on preparedness for and response to the severe weather events last winter is close to finalisation by my Department and will be presented to the Government task force on emergency planning as soon as possible. This follows the earlier reviews undertaken by the principal response agencies, the results of which have been taken into account in their preparedness for future severe weather events.

I am keeping the various recommendations made by the joint committee in mind having regard to this work and will be happy to meet it at a future date to discuss the contents of my Department's report when completed.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the correspondence dated 27 October which was sent on the Minister's behalf to the joint committee. This correspondence stated that he was unavailable to meet the committee to discuss its report and recommendations because he was completing his report which was due on 1 November. The correspondence indicated that he expected to be in a position to respond to the committee's invitation once his report was completed. He has now confirmed to the House that he failed to meet his 1 November deadline and more than one year after the severe weather events of 18 and 19 November 2009, he still has not completed the report.

He indicated in the letters he sent to local authorities that some progress has been made on the issue. Can he advise the House when his report will be complete? Given that the outlines of the report have been set out, can he tell us when he will meet the joint committee to discuss its recommendations?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is correct. I have stated unequivocally that we missed the 1 November deadline. Despite the severe work pressures my Department faces, I hope we can complete the report in the next number of weeks. Once the report is completed I will have no difficulty meeting the joint committee, which I have already met on several occasions. I have discussed the issue with individual Deputies and I am happy to discuss it further.

However, as I have previously pointed out to the joint committee, the most important aspect of the severe weather events was that the primary routes were kept clear for the most part. I am referring here to the snow and ice that affected the roads during cold snap as well as to the flooding which was the Deputy's main concern. In regard to the latter issue, I travelled to Cork almost immediately to meet the city and county managers and discuss their requirements. The money they needed was forthcoming almost immediately.

I remind Deputies that while I have a specific role in flooding matters, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh, has primary responsibility. Subsequent to the publication of my report, we will have to decide who is the most appropriate person to deal with these matters. I am happy to deal with matters that are of concern to the joint committee and I will answer as fully as I can the questions that arise.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Given that the joint committee published its report in July, the Minister has had several months to come before it. He is putting the cart before horse in terms of its recommendations because they could inform him in completing his own review. He is following the wrong strategy by waiting until his report is completed before meeting the committee. As he has not indicated a timeline for completion of his review, it is now unlikely that he will meet the committee to deal with the issues that arise. When he appeared before the committee earlier this year, I suggested it would be unfair to ask him to make a value judgment before our report was completed. He agreed to take on board our recommendations but I suggest he is now prevaricating on them.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We need to move on.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister's agenda included the Aarhus Convention, which has not been ratified, and the ban on corporate donations, which has not been introduced. He has not published the promised White Paper on local government. The number of infringements of EU law has increased since he became Minister.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy has had adequate time to ask his question.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The voting machines have not been dealt with and apparently we will now be left with major legacy issues which arose before he came into office. The report of the joint committee provides him with an opportunity to leave a positive legacy in regard to the events of 18 and 19 November 2009.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I ask the Deputy to afford the Minister an opportunity to respond. We are over time on this question.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to ask the Minister about one recommendation in particular from the committee's report. Will he begin the process of establishing an independent inquiry into what led up to the events that caused €100 million worth of damage to Cork city on 18 and 19 November? Is he prepared to state this afternoon that he will take that recommendation on board?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy made a number of charges which were completely without foundation. He claimed there is no likelihood that I will come before the committee but I have not said that. He then raised extraneous matters which I will have to address. He spoke about legacy issues but he voted against important elements of the planning legislation. I assure him that the measures to which he referred will be introduced.

On one of the occasions when I appeared before the joint committee, the Deputy left us while I was still answering members' questions and came into this Chamber to ask why I was not here. That is his way of operating and I find it objectionable. Others may regard it as funny.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is the man who introduced a €5,000 fine for detonating an atomic bomb.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Parliamentary democracy is mocked when people act in that manner. I assure the Deputy I will do my best to ensure the report is completed in a timely fashion and I have no difficulty in appearing before the committee to answer any questions he and his colleagues may have.