Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be as quick as I can. I thank Senators from all sides of the House for what has been largely a constructive and informative debate. I will try to deal with as many of the issues as possible.

Senator White and others raised the issue of climate change, and I fully agree with her. We cannot ignore it and pretend it is not happening. That is why I am very proud that our national flood plan, CFRAM, goes beyond the EU floods directive, which requires us to put in place a national flood plan, and factors climate change forecasts into the model, which will, one hopes, future-proof the country. It is a prudent and important measure. I am glad to hear of the improvements carried out by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and I hope it is of comfort to Senator White's community.

Senator Keane strongly emphasised the point about climate change. I am proud that we have the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, which I see as more of a first step than a destination. My office has established a climate change adaptation plan, and there is an onus on all of us in public bodies to implement it as quickly as possible. Senator Keane referenced the Dutch. We are engaging with Dutch experts who have been here on an ongoing basis, examining what we are doing. We are learning from them and, I am proud to say, in some areas they are learning from us. There is a good engagement.

A number of Senators raised the issue of insurance. The insurance industry needs to realise that demountable flood barriers, which can be put up and taken down, are not substandard short cuts that are used just because they are cheaper. They work. In some areas, they are the only type of defence that will work.In Fermoy, for example, there is a demountable which, if it was left in place the whole time, would divide the town in two. One cannot build a wall across a main road or bridge and shut down the town. The demountable barrier worked in Fermoy and they work in other countries. However, in other countries insurance companies provide cover where demountables are used. One Senator made the suggestion that people working in the insurance industry need to familiarise themselves with demountables. Certainly, anything that we can do in the OPW to help that happen we are pleased to do. At our meeting last week, the insurance companies undertook to review their position on demountables and they are due to report back at the end of this week. In addition, the Department of Finance is examining best international practice.

I take the point that Senator Power made about the UK system. That system took about six years to be introduced but it does not include business and a lot of businesses here were impacted as well. I think it is a model we should look at. We should not rule anything out because we cannot spend nearly €500 million over the next five years and have the taxpayer, effectively, paying twice. I mean they would have to pay through insurance premia and then through direct tax. Therefore, we have to get this right and I hope last week's meeting was a good start.

In terms of the Shannon group, it will have teeth and Senator Keane raised the same point. It will have an opportunity to make legislative and regulatory suggestions to Government. Its minutes will be published so people will know exactly what it is talking about. It can appear before Oireachtas committees, probably the relevant committee being the Oireachtas environment committee. It will meet on at least a quarterly basis. All of the agencies involved in the Shannon region will have to publish work plans for the next three, six and 12 months. The initiative will bring the missing piece of greater co-ordination and exchange of information, and I again emphasise that point. We have published the flood plans for the 66 areas along the Shannon. If there is a need for regulatory or legislative change, and people have referenced the ESB and the likes, then the group will have to look at such matters so it is not a talking shop. We are not ruling out a single Shannon authority but we are not going to get bogged down now, when people need immediate solutions, in trying to set up something that could end up taking a number of years to do. We should let this group get on with its work and it can do so pretty immediately.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of scheme delays. Flood relief schemes take a long time. Senator Whelan made the point that we cannot have politicians going around promising people that flood relief schemes will happen tomorrow. I was at pains not to do that because the average lead-in time for a flood relief scheme to be identified as being needed to the time it is fully delivered is about five years. The work that has been done by the CFRAM process will reduce the period by two years so the average time should be about three years. These schemes are major capital schemes. They go on people's lands. They require planning and procurement but we have to get on with them as quickly as possible. We publish an updated list of where all of our schemes are on the OPW's website so I will not go through each and everyone of them now.

I take the points made about farming. I have met the IFA on a number of occasions, as has the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We have tried to show a flexibility in terms of inspections. We have tried to show support in terms of fodder. Obviously the Minister has introduced a number of measures. He is keeping a watching brief on some of the issues that Senator Reilly raised that may become apparent as the flood waters continue to recede.

I take the point that Senator Landy made about Carrick-on-Suir very seriously. Obviously he knows the area well and I agree with him that we cannot allow, as a number of Senators have said, for flooding to be forgotten as the agenda moves on. We, in the OPW, have worked on flooding for a hell of a long time and I have worked very hard on it in my time as Minister of State. It is very hard to grab headlines and get people to talk about the issue until a flood comes. I can assure the Senator that between now and the summer that the OPW will work on publishing the 300 flood plans for the entire country and all the areas affected. That will be our primary concern. I agree with him that after every storm there is a need for review which is happening now. I refer to things like making sure pumps and sandbags are available. The Senator made a point about storm water and sewage which is something that we will look at. I also take the point he made about a 71-year-old widow. There is also a role for an ombudsman who could look at cases where people are being treated unfairly. That is something I will bring up in my ongoing engagement.

I wish to assure Senator Mooney that I have not just not visited Carrick-on-Shannon. When more than half of the country is underwater one cannot visit everywhere. I have visited as many places as possible in as many disparate parts of the country as possible to get an overall feel for the issue. I am not against visiting Carrick-on-Shannon. Obviously we know the cycle one is coming into, in terms of this Government nearing the end of its mandate. I am eager to examine in detail the letter that the Senator has told me I should have received about 48 hours ago. I have just received it and I shall look at it. I know that Deputy Fitzmaurice and the man from the chamber of commerce had to go elsewhere. I thank them for being here. I am sure they will follow this matter.

Senator Paschal Mooney:By the way, the invitation was meant in the best spirit.