Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. I will be parochial at the outset and thank him for allocating funding towards the study on the flooding that took place in Kenmare last year. We got ahead of the posse and had our flooding early.

On a more serious note, we must praise all the emergency services who ensured there was no loss of life. While there was horrendous damage to property and to people's businesses, farms and communities, the fact that there was no loss of life is the most important factor in the equation. All too often we see loss of life, which is the ultimate tragedy, in England and America following flooding due to their emergency services not being up to standard.

Much has been said already, but in terms of the praise for the emergency services, we must remember that there was a national strike last week and in most cities and other areas public servants stepped up to the mark. Despite having issues with the Government they proved themselves worthy of high praise for their commitment and dedication. Public servants were given an opportunity by their unions to serve the people. We commend them for that.

Senator Butler referred to building on flood plains. Depending on which county one visits, one hears that flooding is a once in 15, 20, 50 or 100 year event. In my county the rainfall in the past year has been 238% above the norm. That brings us to the important issue of climate change and what will be discussed and decided by the world leaders in Copenhagen. Given that the Senate in Australia was unable to commit itself to its Government's policy on climate change, it does not bode well for a positive outcome in Copenhagen. Questions are being asked about studies by universities in England that are the foundation of all academic research and the basis of some of the belief behind climate change and if that is found to be wanting it will set the issue back further.

I intend to be brief because much has already been said. I pay special tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, for his dedication on the weekend of the flooding in terms of visits to Cork and midland counties. Seeing the effects on the ground is preferable to reading the reports in the newspapers.

While many of the services have been praised, some have been vilified for having reports sitting on shelves and not taking any action due to a lack of funding. In this budgetary climate it will be difficult to spend money on preventative measures that might not be required for another 50 or 100 years. A cost-benefit analysis would be interesting in that regard. It is incumbent on the Government to deal with the immediate issues of getting people's lives and businesses back to normal and then to deal with the long-term problem of future flooding. The draining of the Shannon was a long-running joke. I fear it is a joke no longer. Having so many bodies with a cross-over of responsibility has to be addressed. I am confident the Minister and the Government will do that.