Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am requesting the Leader to invite to the House the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, in his capacity as chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning. The "Be Winter-Ready" campaign for 2016-17 was launched recently and he might update Members on plans to tackle issues such as flooding and severe cold weather, particularly on salt stocks, grit, pumps and the early warning systems. He could update us too on the reporting and preparations local authorities are undertaking and how they are measured by the Government task force, and could indicate where people can contact local services if an emergency arises from the extremes of the winter weather.

I note that Ger Fleming of Met Éireann is not very pessimistic about the long-range forecast but he stated that it can be accurate only for two to three weeks. I think we must be ready. I come from an area where people have had to deal with floods many times in recent years and would like to think we have in place an early warning system and that we are as ready as we can be to protect people’s homes and businesses.