Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Leader on having the foresight and common decency to arrange for a debate on flooding in this House this afternoon. I believe that decision may have been driven by his experience in his own locality over the weekend. I heard on radio that Senator McFadden and her sisters are currently travelling around Athlone distributing sandbags to their neighbours to help stop the encroaching floods.

This morning I left behind a county shrouded in devastation and despair, which are the only words I can find to describe the situation.