Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to put on record my appreciation of all those in the emergency services following the recent severe weather event. It gave us an opportunity as families and communities to pause and reflect away from busy lifestyles. The children around the country enjoyed it but we have to recognise the huge challenges it brought to our citizens, emergency services and communities. Waterford, where I come from, and the south east in particular was hit badly, but along with other Senators I commend the national emergency coordination committee under the chairmanship of Sean Hogan, who I believe did an outstanding job in the interest of citizen safety in communicating the challenges that were about to befall the country. They gave fair warning to all to prepare and we saw the very positive results where people were able to stock up and prepare for the event as it so happened.

I want to be associated with the commendations to the various emergency services - the health workers, the Garda, the Army, the local authority workers as well as contractors - and to my former colleagues in the ESB, who went out in all weathers to ensure services were restored as soon as possible. I commend also the volunteers throughout the country. It is in a crisis that we see the true Irish spirit and volunteerism that exists in all our communities. I refer to the Red Cross and the Civil Defence. What I saw was a huge show of support to local communities. The farming community came out in strength and used their resources and machinery to clear local roads and gain access to people who were isolated. It heartens all of us to see the response made in recent days.

I ask the Leader to provide time at some stage for a debate on resources for local authorities and the emergency services. That should be had at a time of calm when we can reflect on the challenges of this particular event, the roads damage that happened as a result of ice and snow, and the resources local authorities will need to repair them. I commend and appreciate all of those throughout the country who put their shoulders to the wheel during this event.