Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----the rat infestation we have seen in our cities in recent years. I am aware of inner city flat complexes where morning, noon and night residents are plagued by rats and when they complain they are passed off between Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive. Yesterday, a lady explained that she left for work in her car and when she got there her engine had seized because rats had climbed up into the engine. Her car was destroyed. She will have to carry that cost, which will be very difficult.

For people living in inner city homes, and I know Senator Devine has this issue also, this problem must be addressed. We cannot ask families to live in rat-infested areas. I know this issue is disturbing, and I am using the excuse of what happened in the House to raise it, but families are living in those circumstances in cities and towns. We need a strategy because there has been a growth in the number of reports of rat infestation in cities and towns.