Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I, too, extend a céad míle fáilte to the Seanadóir nua, James Carroll. He is very welcome. I support my colleague, Senator McCarthy, in his proposal to give over our Private Members' time today to discuss the serious issue of flooding, including the Clonmel aspect and what is going on there with respect to the flood alleviation process and the impact it has had.

There have been some absolutely heroic actions by all members of the Defence Forces. On Monday I was in the Army barracks when the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, visited Clonmel. I was lucky enough to meet and be able to compliment Corporal David Aherne and Private Jason Daly who heroically waded into waist-high water to rescue two people who, I have no doubt, would have lost their lives had that action not been taken. There has been much activity such as this by young men in the Army, Civil Defence and all forces. I would be glad to have an opportunity to discuss it in a more formal debate later today if this is agreed by the House, as I am sure it will be.

I acknowledge the enormous contribution made yesterday by all staff working in the HSE, free of charge. They provided an absolutely excellent service.

Undoubtedly, the people with whom I walked yesterday outside the hospital in Clonmel would have much preferred to have been doing something positive, such as helping out people whose houses had flooded - they expressed that wish - rather than walking up and down outside a hospital. It certainly was not the action people wished to take. Those people are doing a fantastic job nationwide and should be commended because they continued to provide that service yesterday.