Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I convey my sympathy and that of the Fianna Fáil group to the families of Ms Clare O'Neill, County Waterford, Mr. Michael Pyke, County Tipperary, and Mr. Fintan Goss, County Louth, who tragically lost their lives yesterday in Hurricane Ophelia.

I congratulate those who worked tirelessly yesterday on the front line from the ESB, Dublin and other fire brigade services around the country, the Army and the Garda Síochána. Their work ensured that we could go to work today on safe roads as they took it on themselves to go out and clear the fallen trees from the roads. We should be very grateful.

Met Éireann did a great job in highlighting the clear and present danger and that it was incumbent on all of us to stay indoors to ensure that no further accidents occurred. I believe the work that Met Éireann and RTÉ did yesterday mitigated more loss and prevented further tragedy.

Let me convey my disappointment with those who went against orders and were out kite surfing or swimming yesterday. I think it should be illegal to put the lives of front-line service men and women in that danger. We should mark it by having a debate on that issue in this House.

In addition to the financial cost to the country, it is estimated that Hurricane Ophelia caused approximately €800 million of damage. I understand the insurance companies will pay out for damage. We should call on the Government to actively engage with the insurance companies so that the money is paid out in a most efficient and timely manner.

I congratulate those who supported the people who sleep rough, in particular Brother Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre. With the onset of global warming, these types of storms will become more frequent. We need to ensure that were such weather events to recur, we would be prepared, and have services in place for those without a roof over their head, especially in light of the growing number of homeless people. I call for a debate on the action the Government will take to deal with emergencies that might happen.