Seanad debates

Thursday, 5 July 2018

Commencement Matters

Cross-Border Co-operation

10:30 am

Photo of Niall Ó DonnghaileNiall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is very detailed and I appreciate the clarity. While I did not have all of that information at hand, it does not necessarily surprise me to hear that work is ongoing. I am a great advocate in this Chamber for saying that Ireland works best when it works together. We have certainly seen that in instances of fortress Ireland relating to different agricultural emergencies and things like that. The Minister of State has outlined a number of practical measures where that co-operation is ongoing. I welcome it and I would encourage more of it.

However, the big gap comes with the issue of communication and how we show everything that is going on. I do not doubt that all of that is going on at an emergency co-ordination and response level. I do not know if it is in the gift of Government to direct and encourage Met Éireann and other agencies to ensure that all that collated information is then communicated and shown. It needs to be shown via the maps, RTÉ and Met Éireann in order that people in Strabane or Lifford, Newry or Dundalk know the state of the emergency and what kind of care and precaution they should take. The Minister of State might reflect on that.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.