Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I would be quite happy to second the amendment. The hour proposed will give many Members an opportunity to respond in an immediate way to what we have witnessed in our local communities in the past week or so. The debate will allow us to talk about the changing weather patterns, how much they will be part of our immediate future and how we need to respond to the problem with co-ordinated policy. Many speakers will discuss the extent to which we need to provide adequate resources to ensure we deal with emergencies as and when they happen. I do not regard this as an immediate political problem. Many of the issues we will be addressing as a result of the flooding arise because of a combination of climate change and what we as a people have done with our planet. In a local context it is also a result of some appalling planning decisions in recent decades. I would like Members to address that when we have an opportunity to speak later in the debate.

On yesterday's national day of action, all of us accept the need for the trade union movement acting democratically to express the will of its members about ongoing concerns. Yesterday was such an exercise. Several hundred people were present in the immediate environs of Leinster House and Departments nearby and were not in Newry. I do not see any linkage between the floods, the national day of action and whatever shopping took place in Newry yesterday.