John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Will the Deputy Leader write to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ask that we join Cumbria in requesting funds from the European Social Fund, under the Lisbon treaty, to deal with a national disaster? My county colleague, Senator Prendergast, spoke well last night during the statements on the flooding. She had obviously been out in the flood waters and made the valid point that when matters go off the television screens or radio, they are forgotten. I cannot think of many things that would reward us better for early investment than dealing with floodwater.