Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I welcome the Ukrainian Ambassador. Like many in the Chamber today, I express my solidarity once again for the people of Ukraine. As Senators McGreehan and Wilson referenced, they could be facing another holocaust. What is being done by the Russian leader and some of his people to the Ukrainians is shocking, brutal and outrageous. We must think of them now because they are experiencing shortages of heat, water and food. Obviously, this could have huge consequences for the population of Ukraine. We hope and pray that they will be okay.

I want to refer to the growing difficulty that people are having in getting home insurance. They are being told that because there is a threat of flooding in their area, even if there has never been a flood before and possibly never will be, they will not qualify for insurance. The issue is getting so serious that we need a proper debate on it. There is a growing number of people who are being affected by it. Insurance companies are saying that there is a possibility of flooding in 50 or 60 years' time in different regions. It is just not on. We need to get real. Where there are flood plains, we do not allow building. Where there are no flood plains, there is no danger, in my view, of flooding occurring. We must get on with it and ensure insurance companies do not do that to people. Perhaps the relevant Minister, whether it is the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, or the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, might come to the House to discuss the issue in the new year.