Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Senator Crown.

The issue of flooding has been raised by colleagues today and yesterday. The Leader has promised a debate, which is warranted under the circumstances. My prime issue, which was touched upon by Senator Colm Burke yesterday, is that of the availability of insurance for those whose properties have been flooded, an issue I have raised here before. As we speak, there are huge tracts of commercial premises and estates in certain towns and cities, regardless of whether they are in Clonmel, Skibbereen, Bantry, Cork city or Limerick, that cannot and will not get insurance in the future. That is most regrettable.

This is above politics. Whatever debate we have here, we must address the situation regarding these people getting insurance. They are paying commercial rates and water charges and are tax-compliant, yet because an event happens once or twice a year through no fault of their own, they cannot get insurance in the future. When the debate takes place, I ask the Leader to include the issue of where these people are to go. The fact that insurance companies close the door because one is flooded once or twice is most annoying and frustrating, be it in Cork city, Bandon, Clonmel or Sligo. The insurance industry must not be allowed to get away with it. Politically, we have been allowing it to get away with it for the past ten or 15 years so it is about time this House cried "Stop". The Leader has promised a debate and I respect his intention but if progress is not made in this regard, I will call for a vote on this and raise it in future. The insurance companies are effectively saying in these instances, "In saecula saeculorum, forget about these premises, they will never again be insured". After the flood relief efforts are undertaken and the barriers are put in, be they in Fermoy, Mallow or Bandon, will they be able to get insurance? I doubt it. This is a significant and thorny issue and I will certainly not let it go away. Could the Leader ensure that this is at least included when we are debating the issue of flooding?