James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I sympathise with those who lost loved ones in yesterday's storm. I join other Senators in commending the members of the emergency services and first responders who did sterling work yesterday and who will continue to do such work for some days. I also commend the Government on its preparedness and the preparations that took place, without which the loss of life would have been greater.

I do not agree with my near namesake, Senator Joe O'Reilly, on the issue of trees. Not only are trees aesthetic living forms, they are also the lungs of the world. While I fully understand the rationale for his proposal and his good intentions, his suggestion is not practical.

I echo the comments of previous speakers regarding those who ignored the advice that was given and placed themselves and others who were required to intervene in great danger. We did a morning surgery yesterday and closed for the afternoon because the storm was due. Returning home, I saw a young man cycling a bicycle which I could not believe in light of the warning that had been issued. It is not only that people took foolish chances at sea but given the strong advice not to cycle, I found it extraordinary to see someone cycling yesterday. I expect that the young man in question was under 18 years of age and I wonder what his parents were thinking and doing about this. He could easily have been hit by a gust of wind and knocked into the path of a car. As I stated, the people who engage in this behaviour put not only themselves but also put the first responders who have to deal with the fallout from their actions in danger.

I raise the cases of people whose premises and businesses suffered severe damage, particularly those who cannot get insurance. My understanding from those involved in horticulture - a major industry in my area that supplies more than 50% of vegetables to the country - is that it is nigh on impossible to insure a glass house or polytunnel. Many horticulturists and nursery owners suffered severe damage to their property yesterday. I hope the Government will take full advantage of the European Union fund established to deal with such natural disasters in order that we can put money aside to help people to deal with the losses they sustained as a consequence of yesterday's storm. The most important thing today is to commend all the men and women who work in the services and the first responders who have performed such sterling work over the past 24 to 48 hours and who continue to do so. As Senator Lawless pointed out, many people showed tremendous generosity and care for their neighbours and for others during this time of difficulty for some of our most vulnerable citizens.