Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As one of the Senators who called for it on one of the first days after this Seanad met, I welcome this debate on Storm Éowyn. Cavan was badly hit by the storm, as were Monaghan and other counties in the midlands and the west. My neighbours and I were without power for nine days, which was very tough, but I was in a position to hop in the car and go somewhere to find a shower, heat or power. Many vulnerable people were not in that position. Older people, disabled people and people who rely on power for medical devices such as hospital beds, hoists, dialysis machines and oxygen machines were left in a perilous position. It did not matter if they were on the ESB vulnerable list. It made no difference to how they were treated following the storm. Something needs to be done to plan for a future severe weather event so that those people are not left without power. Perhaps the ESB could provide small generators, or have them ready for supply, to people who are going to be without power and who need them.

The updates from the ESB's PowerCheck service were also frustrating. They kept changing or being bypassed. It was really disappointing because people thought their power was going to be back that night or the next day, only for the update to change and it to then be next week. This was frustrating but it was a great feeling to get the power back in the end.

I am still being contacted by people from all over Cavan who have no broadband. Many of them are working from home. Many are farmers who cannot operate cameras to oversee livestock, for example. The main frustration for them is the lack of communication from the communications companies. This needs to be dealt with. People are trying to contact the companies to get an update as to when broadband will be restored. They have been without it for longer than a month now. They cannot get through or there is no response or indication provided. Whether fibre or otherwise, the broadband companies need to up their game big time because they were not prepared to address these problems and have been quite relaxed about addressing the issues.

The fact that Uisce Éireann had no generators in many cases to operate its water treatment plants and reservoirs was unbelievable in this day and age. We have had a number of severe weather events where power has been lost. Uisce Éireann should have been aware that this was going to happen. The warnings were severe. It has been pointed out to me that, in the aftermath of Storm Darragh, water tankers were very quickly placed in many towns and villages for people who had been affected by a loss of water. While that did happen this time, it was slower in happening. It should have been faster. I am glad to hear that Uisce Éireann is now investing in generators that will be able to operate its reservoirs and water plants.

I call for the humanitarian assistance scheme to be expanded to businesses, farms, community and voluntary groups, and sporting organisations that have been affected by the storm, especially where insurance will not cover the loss of income and damages suffered by businesses. People had to invest in generators. There was an element of price gouging by some retailers in that regard. It was disappointing to see them taking advantage of people's situations. Generators also cost money to operate, and where people had them, they were caught where fuel was concerned. People had to eat out because they got fed up trying to cook on a small camping stove or one ring of a cooker. Many people are out of pocket, and this needs to be addressed.

It is essential that the cost of the storm is not borne by ESB customers as was threatened by the head of the ESB. The company made significant profits last year of €898 million. Since 2021, the energy regulator has been urging it to prepare for extreme weather events, but it has failed to plan. This is on the ESB and should not be borne by the customers. That is not to take away from the ESB crews on the ground. They worked night and day to assess and address the damage. I commend them. I also commend the community spirit shown by the many who set up community hubs or helped out their neighbours. If people's power was restored or if they had a generator, they were quick to offer it to somebody who did not. I commend all of those for their generosity of spirit in the community and the crews who worked tirelessly on the ground.