Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I commend Senator Garvey and the Green Party on tabling the motion. The Minister of State has been love-bombed by the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on a cruise in the Seanad and there is a party that wants to love-bomb him to Cork to ensure our flood defence scheme will be put in place. To be fair to him, we commend him on his work, interest, vigilance and strident approach to flooding.

Senator Garvey stated we cannot afford to wait and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, spoke about flooding being a fact of life. Almost 12 months ago to the week, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, were in Cork city together. We stood with residents, homeowners and business owners who had been devastated by another event of flooding that caused consternation. In 2020, we were fortunate that the flooding event was not as catastrophic as it could have been in the city, unlike in west Cork in August, earlier in the summer.

We must ensure delivery of the flood defence scheme for Cork city. This debate is very important, timely and opportune. The Minister of State, like many of us, is frustrated and anxious for progress to continue. I understand the result of the court case during the summer, but for those of us who believe Cork city must be indemnified from flooding, insofar as it physically can be, we must progress with pace the Cork flood relief scheme.

I do not mean to be patronising but I commend the Minister of State and his officials. I will not name the officials but they are very dedicated and committed people who have a clear view and have engaged and listened. In the case of Cork city, it is not that there was a one-direction approach; there have been multiple consultations and engagements with reports. I am of the view that the Minister of State's legacy in the Department will be the nailing down of the Cork flood relief scheme. I know he will do it, along with Cork City Council. Our city is living on tenterhooks.

I have only one motivation, namely, the city I love, the city I grew up in and live in. I want Senators to understand this. I accept that some people have a different viewpoint from mine; I understand that and respect it. Nevertheless, I have seen men and women in the Middle Parish who were flooded, their homes destroyed. I have seen business owners, on multiple occasions, having to clean out their businesses. I will not in this House use the terms I could use but Senators can imagine. These are men and women who are doing their best, as business owners and also as homeowners.

If we are serious about the national development plan, urban regeneration, the living city initiative and all the money we are proposing for the city of Cork, the most important project on which we must deliver relates to flood relief. I say that as a Corkonian, with my only vested interest being my city. That is not about economics; it is purely about making our city liveable for the men and women who live there. If we want to create a new city in the lower harbour, that is fine, but I am old Cork.I want to see a city that is developed and habitable. I want to see the vibrancy of old brought back to our old city.

We began this journey some 14 or 15 years ago. I said in this House almost 12 months ago that the scheme we have now is a better scheme because of the huge consultation and engagement that was done by the Department and, to be fair to him, by the Minister of State. As I said a year ago, the CFRAM study has done our city a power of a good, but it is time now for a real visual impact in terms of the delivery of the scheme. I thank the Green Party Members for tonight's motion and the Minister of State for his work. I hope we can have not just a debate but an outcome that will deliver for the people of Cork.