Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I wish him well in his portfolio. I am sure he will do a wonderful job. He has already proved himself as a back bencher and councillor. I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the families who lost loved ones over the last couple of days. It is a shocking tragedy for the three families concerned.

The Minister of State is a practical man and I believe his Department can do more to help prevent flooding. In many cases, flooding is caused by the flow of water into the lakes which then flow into the rivers running through small towns, flooding them in the process. I would like to make a suggestion. The Minister of State should consider the installation of weirs on some of the lakes so that we can control them and, in conjunction with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, consider how electricity could be generated from the outflow from the lakes. Weirs would allow us to control the levels of lakes so that they do not run into the rivers and lead to flooding of the type that occurred in places like Crossmolina and Ballina. What I am suggesting will not solve all the problems because, as stated by other Senators, flooding will always be with us. However, it is worthy of consideration. It is possible to control some of the lakes with weirs and at the same time generate energy.

Senator O'Sullivan mentioned green flags. They are very important in terms of educating our children about what is going on, although they do not really understand it. This generation has witnessed the changes that have taken place. During my lifetime I have noticed the increase in rainfall and the changes in temperatures, as I am sure has almost everybody here. We have witnessed the changes and we need to lay the foundations for change and to convey to young people what needs to be done. As stated by other Senators, action must be taken and large countries like America, China, Japan and so on must lead the way in that regard. Ireland is a small country and all we can do is try to get our own house in order and encourage the larger countries to lead the way. Action must be taken if we are to halt the frequency of storms and flooding and, in the case of Spain, Portugal, Australia and America, raging fires. Climate change is affecting regions and continents in different ways. There is no doubt but that the increased frequency of storms, flooding and fires is being caused by the global increase in temperatures.

In regard to flooding, what I have suggested will not help the potato grower or the tillage farmer in Donegal but it would help to control how the rivers flow and at the same time generate electricity.