Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I seek a debate early in the new year to discuss the impact of global warming and changing weather conditions on rivers, waterways and flood relief measures. We have seen the impact of a dry summer together with a very wet autumn, with much rainfall in recent weeks. This has been wreaking havoc on many communities around the country, particularly in the lower Shannon and south-east Clare area, where the manner in which the ESB generating station controls water on the River Shannon is having a significant impact.

I visited a number of houses last night which had been flooded, with the residents cut off from their families and livestock, living in treacherous conditions. There does not appear to be a plan or an initiative to tackle the problem, and we require a debate as early as possible. If we were to believe the meteorological experts, this could be the future of our summers and winters, with much more rainfall in a number of weeks and months. We should have an early debate on the strategy of various Departments, such as the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the OPW to alleviate the problem.