David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for agreeing to arrange a debate on flooding as quickly as possible. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, or the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Brian Hayes, should discuss with us the impact of the floods in counties Cork, Galway, Kerry and Waterford. Last night, Waterford city was saved from the worst of the floods and the mayor, Councillor Cummins, whom the Leader may know, took a very active part in ensuring the flood defences were fit for purpose. Nevertheless, some damage was done in certain parts of the city. Many coastal villages and areas, including in County Waterford, have also suffered significant damage in recent days.

We must address two issues, namely, the long-term issue of climate change, including the increase in rainfall that is unfortunately predicted to become a permanent feature of our weather, and the issue of whether our flood defences are capable of withstanding the weather conditions we will face in the coming years. We need to consider long-term solutions as well as the short-term problem of providing support to businesses and households. The solution lies in ensuring there is a proper partnership between local authorities and the Department. Senators could play a useful role in this regard by consulting members of local authorities and passing on the relevant information to the Minister when the House debates flooding next week.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to defer until tomorrow the one-hour debate on the youth guarantee. We should have arranged this debate for Thursday at the start of the week. I am not sure if the reason was connected to the availability or otherwise of a Minister. I disagree with the Fianna Fáil Party on this issue. While I accept that Ministers should be present for debates, I disagree with the House deciding not to sit on a Thursday because Ministers are not available. In such circumstances, it would be preferable to hold the debate without a Minister present because in terms of optics, it is wrong not to sit.

We should be turning up for work and doing what we are paid to do, which is to raise important issues affecting the people of this State. I appeal to the Leader to ensure we do not end up without Thursday sittings over the next three weeks. I know he is doing his best. It would be wrong to have more weeks like this week. We should not do it.