Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and commend him for the work he is doing. I also thank him for his proactivity and his presence here today. This is a very important debate. I want to begin where Senator Grace O'Sullivan ended in terms of Cork city and the need to protect it from future flooding. The history of flooding in Cork city is well documented and well known. The effect on homeowners and businesses is devastating with the costs of damage running into the hundreds of millions of euro. It has a profound effect and impact on the lives of people and business owners. Senator Grace O'Sullivan is right. We all love our city and want to see it protected. There is a debate going on regarding alternative proposals and there has been consultation. I was at a public meeting in City Hall and I know that there is consultation ongoing regarding Morrison's Island. I commend the OPW for its work in drawing up proposals. I agree with Senator Grace O'Sullivan that we should not allow projects for Cork to be lost or further delayed. It is imperative that we act now. I am sure there can be a meeting of minds between the two groups.

Flood relief and flood defence are very important. We have a duty of care to the people affected. We should picture and put ourselves in the minds of the business people and home owners who hear a weather alert about the possibility of future flooding in Cork. Imagine how they felt last week when Paschal Sheehy was on the 6.01 p.m. and 9 p.m. news speaking about potential flooding due to the snow. It has a devastating impact. I stood in people's kitchens, living rooms and business premises that had been damaged and affected by flooding. We must look after such people. That is our duty now.

I welcome the €6 million plan for the regeneration of Morrison's Island. It is about enhancing the public realm, but also about putting in place a flood defence project. There are many talking points and topics of discussion emanating from the public consultation and the information days that have been held. There is another such day tomorrow. As the Senator correctly said, that is the benefit of public consultation. People can feed into the process and present their viewpoints. The OPW must work with all of us - which it is doing - to ensure that we create a flood defence plan.Tidal flood events in Cork are becoming more prevalent. I commend the Save Cork City group on its interaction and engagement. It has helped stimulate debate and presented many different viewpoints that perhaps would not otherwise get heard. We cannot allow a position where there will be a decision to stall rather than move on this plan.

I was very hopeful when I read the national planning framework, which speaks about Cork. It indicates that further to completion of the lower flood relief scheme, the issue of flood management must be addressed as part of any future strategy for Cork, particularly with respect to the edge of the city adjoining the River Lee. That is to be welcomed. I know the Minister of State is sincere and very genuine in his work on the Cork issue. We cannot allow a position to continue where there is fear of flooding and actual flooding. We have seen a genuine attempt made to ensure Cork is protected and we must act as the people of Cork will not forgive us if we do not. This is a time for leadership by all of us. If it means knocking heads together - I know the Minister of State is good at that and getting things done - we should do that. I thank the Minister of State for his interest, his courtesy and availability to meet at all times. I have always found him very accessible. We have a duty to the people of Cork to ensure a flood defence mechanism can be put in place, and I hope we can do that.