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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Jan 2016

Vol. 902 No. 1

Leaders' Questions

I wish you a happy new year, a Cheann Comhairle.

Thank you. The same to you, Deputy.

I wish the Taoiseach a happy new year too, apart from the electoral situation.

Storms Desmond, Eva and Frank have devastated many communities across this island. They caused immense damage to homes, businesses and vital infrastructure, particularly road infrastructure. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the council staff who did heroic work in many communities, the staff of other agencies and the Army, whose members were called out in emergency situations and who worked well. Above all, it was communities on the ground who responded in solidarity to help their beleaguered neighbours, colleagues and townspeople. Farmers and civil contractors, in particular, did heroic work.

However, many people are very angry at the lack of preparation for these storms, particularly between the first and last storms, on basic matters such as protocols regarding the provision of pumps and the lack of council staff. The cuts to council staff were so severe that councils were incredibly stretched during this difficult period. The abolition of town councils was a mistake, as was starkly shown up in the context of the response to the flooding. "Who is in charge?" was the most often repeated catchcry or refrain as one travelled from one flood area to another. Between 2014 and 2015 there was an underspend of approximately €34.5 million on flood defence schemes and repairs to flood defences. The money was provided but was not spent. The core national framework for emergency management has not been updated since 2007. Limerick City Council is still mentioned in it, although it is a year and a half since it was abolished.

A question please, Deputy.

Until yesterday, there was no discussion on insurance cover for flood risk for homes and businesses. I asked the Taoiseach about that a month ago. Today, instead of statements on flooding, we should be debating legislation during Government time on a single agency for the Shannon region, which everybody in that region is now adamant is required to deal with the flooding issues.

Why was there a lack of preparation in terms of the response to the damage caused by these storms? Can the Taoiseach indicate why the Government underspent to the tune of €34 million on flood defences in the last two years? Why has the national framework for emergency response not been updated? Why has there been no proactive work on the insurance issue until now? Why are we not discussing legislation on a single agency for the Shannon region today?

I thank the Deputy for his questions and I wish him good luck for 2016, outside the electoral contest.

The rains in December were the heaviest for 52 years in many places around the country. Cork Airport had 400 mm, more than it ever had. Places in the south east such as Carlow had between 150% and 300% more than average rainfall. This was absolutely devastating for many communities and very distressing for householders, business people and people in the agricultural sector. I agree that the community response was absolutely magnificent. Obviously assistance was given by Civil Defence, Army personnel and local authorities to everybody involved in attempting to cope with elements that in many cases just wiped away road structures, bridges and culverts and caused serious damage.

I called together all of the chief executives of the statutory authorities with responsibility for the Shannon basin. They had never been called together previously. If one reads the Official Report of the debate held in this House on 30 June 1948 one will find the same complaints and issues being raised about flooding, and the Shannon in particular, at that time.

However, as far as I am concerned, one could be debating legislation on a single entity. Many of these are very important statutory entities. What is much more important is that the action is taken that can be taken and to have an effective working strategy to deal with the Shannon basin from estuary to source, including the tributaries of the rivers Hind, the Brosna, the Suck and the Inny. The answer to the problem is multifaceted and includes flood plains and works that can be carried out under the flexibility of the Habitats and Water Framework Directives.

I wish to advise Deputy Martin that what Government did before Christmas was make two decisions on the humanitarian issue. That affected Bandon with €10 million being made available to address humanitarian issues. Also, a €5 million fund was decided for businesses in flood plains which did not have insurance and were ratably valued. It is a very simple and effective proposition to get €5,000 paid before Christmas and a further €15,000 unvouched costs to be administered by local authorities and the Red Cross. The local authorities confirmed that they turned around the applications within 24 hours.

The emergency co-ordination group has met 30 times since 3 December. It is a body of representative people with great experience in their fields. Deputy Martin raises a valid question as to more adequate preparation. One of the decisions made by Government was to invest in detailed capacity for far greater information on long-range weather forecasting so that authorities and communities would be aware as far in advance as possible of what might happen. I understand the concept of wanting a single legal authority. Some of these authorities were in situ before the State was founded. An effective working strategy is what is needed.

The insurance companies were not called together before now. We had a good meeting with them yesterday. It was not meant to be either an inquisition or a meeting out of which final decisions would be made. What was agreed was that the companies would explain and forward to the Office of Public Works by the end of next week the information on the houses and businesses they insure and come back with, to coin a phrase, a more mature reflection on the issue of demountable defences which are allowed, insured and reinsured on the Continent but not in Ireland. In Fermoy for instance, such defences were put up on seven different occasions during the recent floods and worked exceptionally well. As far as we are concerned, they stand the test of time. In that sense, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will produce, in so far as he can, an accurate summary from all local authorities of the extent of structural damage to roads, bridges, culverts and so on. We hope to deal with that during the course of the coming year.

The Taoiseach's reply confirms my basic point that there was a lack of preparation at Government level for the emergencies that occurred. I refer to very basic issues, such as the hiring of pumps. I was in Midleton where hours after the shocking flooding, people were still looking for the proper pumps to pump out the water. I was in Portumna in Galway where it was down to the six council staff. Deputy Keaveney was with me and we met Councillor Anne Rabbitte who led the charge with the council staff to simply put up a basic defence to save the town from flooding. A €200,000 spend some time back would have prevented that necessity. Many people on the ground say that minor works, from drainage and reinforcing of walls and ditches, would have done a great deal to prevent a lot of the damage that was done. In Bandon and other towns, people are adamant that if it was not for farmers and civil contractors, the situation would have been a great deal worse.

However, some civil contractors were told they should not be doing the work and that they did not have insurance for it. There were no protocols in place. Some people were told they should not be doing the work when the whole place was under water. Talking to traders, I heard that it was those people who made the essential difference in the eye of the storm. In Clare at New Quay, Clonlara and Tubber, basic interventions in advance could have kept connectivity between townlands and villages.

There is an issue around the lack of preparation. I mentioned to the Taoiseach that the emergency response plan has not been updated since 2007, which is a serious indictment. On the insurance front, I asked the Taoiseach a month ago to consider the British approach in terms of legislation and otherwise in providing a not-for-profit fund to deal with houses at risk from flooding.

All of the Taoiseach's response was post-event. It was a commentary on the event and its aftermath. Very little of what he said has answered the set of questions I put to him on the state of preparedness of people on the ground and at Government level directing matters before and between the storms.

I remind the House that we have statements on flooding immediately after the Order of Business.

I am not God and I cannot predict the extent of rainfall. That is one of the reasons we have invested in far more sophisticated long-term weather forecasting.

That should have been done three years ago. It was recommended three years ago.

It is another confirmation of the lack of preparation.

Why did Fianna Fáil not do it in 2009 when in government?

The Taoiseach should call in the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris.

(Interruptions).

After you start, Deputy Martin, we now have a chorus.

I point out to Deputy Martin that the scheme in England is only going live now. It took five years to put together and it excludes small businesses and houses built since 2009. Some £40 million was spent on Carlisle but it did not work. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works is developing the CFRAM detailed response which includes 66 locations on the Shannon and 300 nationally. Some €420 million is to be spent over the next five years and €1 billion over the next decade to deal with flood defences in various locations nationally. Bandon would have been done by now but there were objections and it is a similar situation in Enniscorthy. I was in Craughwell the other day where people were very distraught. The new bridge acted as a dam. The old bridge never blocked. Houses were flooded and there was damage, frustration and great annoyance.

Lessons are learned from all of these floods. The first point of emergency contact must be the local authority. The representative of all the local authorities, Mr. Brendan McGrath, gave a detailed response at each of the 30 meetings of the national co-ordination group.

He does not have the staff.

It is all chief, no Indians.

Army personnel were available and at the end of a telephone, day or night, to man pumps, fill sandbags and assist communities to keep flood waters in abeyance. In the complex area between the Slieve Aughty mountains and Kinvara, where fractured limestone results in underground streams and turloughs which emerge in winter, flexibility must be shown under the Habitats Directive and water directive to take excess surface water from those turloughs and allow houses, dairy farms and agricultural sheds which are currently flooded to carry on business as normal.

Lessons are being learned. Clearly, one cannot predict the extent of rainfall that nature sends to us. I understand exactly the frustration of so many people but all of these agencies are working flat out to bring about solutions. The period ahead is a very important time for rectifying some of these problems in preparation for what might happen again next winter.

Ba mhaith liom bliain úr faoi mhaise a ghabháil leatsa, a Cheann Comhairle, agus leis an Taoiseach freisin. Deputy Brian Stanley and I are moving a Bill for a single management agency for the River Shannon later this afternoon. I invite the Fianna Fáil leader and Government Deputies to support it.

For now, I am very sad to be raising again the issue of Moore Street in the first Dáil sitting of 2016. In the very first week of the centenary year of the Easter Rising, relatives of those who took part in the Rising and other activists were forced to prevent irreparable damage to the historic terrace at the national monument on Moore Street by occupying buildings there. It is damning after the long battle to save Moore Street that the relatives have had to take legal proceedings against the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in order for work to be halted at the last battlefield site of the most significant event in this nation's modern history, when a handful of republican volunteers went out against the biggest empire in human history.

The Taoiseach has acknowledged that Moore Street is one of the most important historical and cultural locations on the island. The National Museum has described it as the most important site in modern Irish history. When the Taoiseach was in opposition and took a tour of it, he referred to it as the "lanes of history". Now, the national monument - the entire battlefield site - is in State ownership, but the Minister persists in carrying out a plan that was devised by discredited developers Chartered Land in conjunction with the retail developer Hammerson. Developers should not set the agenda. The Government must ensure that the historic quarter at Moore Street is redeveloped in the respectful, dignified and appropriate manner that befits its status. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to develop the entire battlefield site at the historic quarter? If he considered it for a second, he would accept that such an initiative would be a major economic boost for Dublin, in particular for the north inner city's community. It would be a tourist mecca, educational hub and fitting memorial to the men and women of 1916.

I thank Deputy Adams, agus guím ádh de shaghas éigin leis i mbliana freisin.

Go raibh maith agat.

I went down there a few times to look at this. Obviously, the location where those who were involved in the GPO issued the final call for surrender is an historical monument. Now, this has dragged on since 1922. It has dragged on all those years. This Government decided to purchase the three dwellings - the three houses - that are now the national monument owned by the State. What the Deputy seems to want is for the State to acquire everything from the corner of the GPO up as far as the Rotunda, which is where the final surrender took place on the footpath opposite.

This is a matter for Dublin City Council. It has been bandied about for years in terms of who should do what, what developer owned it, what planning permission was approved, refused and objected to and all the rest of it. The Government looked at this and said that we were approaching 2016, the centenary of a seminal moment in Irish history. We are one of the first small countries of the 20th century to achieve independence. The Government considered that the State should purchase the houses involved, and did so. The State wants to put together a very sensitive commemorative feature in those houses that would be the centrepiece of the historical monument.

I understand from the Minister that the house was occupied just the other night and that quite a collection of bedding, sleeping bags, beds and so on donated by a charity were collected there after the people left. I am not sure what the relevance of that was or what point wanted to be made here.

Then why is the Taoiseach making it?

The State does not own the properties right up along Moore Street where the O'Rahilly was shot up as far as the Rotunda. The State now owns the national monument and has responsibility for it. The State wants to do a very sensitive, authentic revising of the quality of the buildings that were there. As Deputy Adams will be aware from recent press comments and from confirmation in those press comments, the buildings on either side were either in ruins or were not authentic in previous years. For the State and the Office of Public Works to do a very sensitive job here is, in my view, an important consideration as part of the overall contributions to the centenary commemorations of 1916.

It is a matter for the elected representatives of the city council to deal with the plan-----

Yes, it is: to deal with the plan that they have presented to them and the planning applications that go in for that, whether those take into account the existing laneways and existing streets or not. That is not a function of the Government. The Government purchased, with public money, the buildings involved. The Government wants, with public money, to do a really important, sensitive restoration of these buildings. Occupying them does not help that. I know that people have divided loyalties in the community down there about what should be done, but the State wants to fulfil its remit and its responsibility in a proper and fitting fashion.

The Taoiseach is right that this has gone on for too long, but he is wrong about everything else. He stated that it appeared that we wanted the area from the GPO, but we want an historic 1916 quarter, cearnóg stairiúil nó cearnóg na saoirse. The Taoiseach knows his history and has walked these laneways. The garrison came out of the GPO. Among its number was Michael Collins. He took over one house. Three hundred men and 30 women occupied the entire terrace. Elizabeth Farrell went up Moore Street and parlayed with the British on Parnell Street. The O'Rahilly was killed in one of the laneways. When the Volunteers surrendered, they were taken to the garden outside the Rotunda. Tom Clarke's shop was on the opposite side of O'Connell Street as Parnell Street. We want to see all of that developed. The local community is not divided in this regard.

The Government is the custodian of national monuments. It clearly has the power and authority to do this. What is lacking is the political will. Yes, successive Governments have failed, but I could not imagine any other state in the world in which this could happen. Whatever one thinks about the political complexion or leaderships of other states, this would not happen there. These are the Taoiseach's last few weeks as outgoing Taoiseach. I appeal to him to use his authority and intervene.

If I may remind the Taoiseach, we have yet to achieve our independence.

Our nation is still divided. Partition is still a fact. We now have a peaceful and democratic way to work that out and we all should be doing that. However, this issue should be above party politics. This entire Oireachtas should be united in ensuring that an appropriate 1916 quarter is developed. We do not want a commemorative shopping mall. That is the last thing that we want.

I think that the Deputy's party, with respect, does not want to associate itself with the national commemorative ceremonies that are going on.

That is not true.

We have been at them.

The party seems to want to have its own issues, and that is its own business.

We have been at them all. Did the Taoiseach not see us?

We would not see Deputy Adams at them.

I would say this to Deputy Adams: the State, with public money, has invested in the provision of military archives, has invested in the transformation of the mezzanine in the General Post Office, has invested in the courthouse in Kilmainham, has invested in Richmond Barracks and in the tenement buildings-----

Kilmainham was saved because the State was forced to save it.

-----and also purchased this national monument. I do not think the-----

The Taoiseach could put a shopping mall there as well.

Deputy, please.

-----authority in Washington bought the entire terrace where President Lincoln was assassinated, but the State has purchased these buildings here and wants to restore them as a national monument, which they now are, in State ownership in a sensitive, authentic restoration. People occupying it are not helping that case and may well be a danger to themselves, given the fragility of some of the buildings there. I have said to Deputy Adams before that the reason that people had to burrow through the gables of the houses to get to 15, 16 and 17 was the machine gun on the top of the Rotunda. They could not use Moore Street. The O'Rahilly was shot and his memory is enshrined on the wall there, as the Deputy is well aware.

It will be a car park.

The issue is whether Deputy Adams agrees that it is the right and proper thing for the State, the national Government of Ireland, to have purchased these dwellings-----

The State Government, not the national government of Ireland. Catch yourself on.

Deputy Adams is-----

(Interruptions).

-----and to have transformed them into an authentic restoration of the place as far as which-----

A Deputy

The Deputies should read the Proclamation.

-----the leaders of the 1916 Rising in the GPO tunnelled and burrowed before Elizabeth Farrell went to deliver the surrender on the footpath opposite the Rotunda. I think it is. It is part of the commemorative centenary celebrations-----

A commemorative shopping mall.

That is a great soundbite.

-----which are sensitive, inclusive and open to everybody. Deputy Adams does not seem to want that. He may have purposes of his own.

We do not want a commemorative shopping mall. Fine Gael does, and-----

The State does not own the other properties-----

-----Labour does, I presume.

-----and the State does not have the authority to say, "These are the buildings and the kinds of developments that we want here".

The Taoiseach can do it in Mayo.

It is a matter for representatives, including Sinn Féin's own, to participate in that discussion so that this kind of development can take place in the locality of the State monument here at 15, 16 and 17.

Yesterday, we learned of the closure of the C&C plant, formerly Gleeson's, at Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, with the loss of 140 jobs. I can only describe as shameful the fact that the workers and their families learned of this closure in the pages of The Irish Times and on local radio. It is a disgraceful way to treat workers who have been loyal to the company for many years, and up to 30 years in many cases. The closure is a hammer blow to the workers, their families and the town of Borrisoleigh, which has depended on the business for generations.

When C&C acquired Bulmers in Clonmel and Gleeson's in Borrisoleigh, we were told there was a bright future for the company and that there were expansion plans. Of course, the opposite happened. The company shredded jobs at both locations and slashed wages and the terms and conditions of employment. We now hear about the closure of Gleeson's, with 140 job losses. That closure is completely unnecessary and is being effected solely for the purpose of making more profit. In other words, it is a case of greed. The company C&C is very profitable. Its last set of accounts, for the half year to 30 September 2015, show a profit of €62.5 million. It is now very obvious to everybody that the company acquired Gleeson's with the clear intention of closing it by stealth. There were 40 job losses and redundancies previously. The company has, and continues to have, support from Enterprise Ireland. The Government was aware of circumstances in C&C in Borrisoleigh. In November 2015, which is less than three months ago, the Dáil was told the Minister had directed his officials to enter into discussions with C&C. What action did the Government take to prevent the closure? Does the Taoiseach condone the conduct of the company? Will he tell the company that its conduct is absolutely unacceptable? Does he agree that it is socially irresponsible for a company to take a decision that has the effect of devastating a town? As I stated, the company is supported significantly by Enterprise Ireland. Will the Taoiseach now intervene, even at this late stage, to save these jobs?

The Deputies from Tipperary raised this matter with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, earlier today as a topical issue with the authorisation of the Ceann Comhairle. The Minister answered questions on this for the Deputies concerned.

It is always tough when a company decides to make a decision that involves taking jobs from a location or job losses. In this case, C&C has made the decision that the operations in Shepton Mallet and Borrisoleigh will be transferred to Clonmel, with an added investment of €10 million. This will include Bulmers, Magners, Tipperary Water and various niche beers and ciders. There is to be an expansion of the facility in Clonmel, bringing it to 75% capacity. That is tough on the workers in Borrisoleigh, which I understand. Obviously, if some of the workers in Borrisoleigh decide to work in Clonmel, they will have to travel a distance.

The Minister spoke to senior management at the company in recent days and urged it to reconsider its decision. However, it has made its decision and, unfortunately, it was not possible to hold the jobs in Borrisoleigh.

Enterprise Ireland will obviously continue to engage with the company on a range of issues associated with the marketing of the facility in Borrisoleigh. It is obviously not possible, in such a short period, to have a replacement facility put in place. While it is difficult for the workers involved directly, the closure comes at a time when 1,000 jobs have been created per week throughout the country. While it is no consolation today, I hope the marketing of the facility in Borrisoleigh will attract some other company such that it will set up there and provide gainful employment for the people in the area.

I note the company's statement that it will continue to provide support and training for the workers who are affected. Clearly, all the supports from the State will be available also. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, will continue to remain interested in this matter to determine what can be done following the company's announcement. I thank Deputy Healy for raising the matter again.

This closure comes on the back of job losses in Intellicom, Grant's, Supervalu in Tipperary town, the Fairgreen supermarket in Carrick-on-Suir and Supervalu in Clonmel. The Government has forgotten Tipperary. Like the Minister earlier this afternoon, the Taoiseach has washed his hands of the situation in Borrisoleigh.

The number of unemployed in Tipperary, 13,000, is significantly higher than the national average. The rate is probably 13%. We have lost a net 321 IDA Ireland jobs in the past three years. Disposable income in Tipperary is 5% lower than the national average. The Government has deliberately excluded every town in Tipperary from IDA Ireland's programme of building advance factories and offices.

I ask the Taoiseach again whether he will intervene to save the jobs. This is a totally unnecessary closure. Will he reverse the decision, which is a deliberate snub to Tipperary and deliberate discrimination against towns in the county? Every town in Tipperary has been excluded from IDA Ireland's proposal to build advance factories and advance offices. The Government took this decision. Will it reverse it now and ensure Borrisoleigh gets an advance factory?

The Deputy is now asking me a different question.

It is the same question.

Obviously, the Government has set out a proposal to have the areas outside the main urban areas become more attractive for investment and support, through Enterprise Ireland's local enterprise offices, to deal with small and medium enterprises exporting from the country.

With respect, circumstances would be different if the company were to close down completely, with the loss of all the investment and jobs. I recall many occasions in the west when some of the bigger firms closed, with the loss of 1,000 jobs, thus causing economic devastation, yet it is peculiar how many small new enterprises can grow from this.

I understand C&C has made its decision and will not reverse it. It will expand in Clonmel, with an additional investment of €10 million and the creation of 80 additional jobs. The first option will be given to workers from Borrisoleigh who might wish to travel there. Obviously, they will have the option of travelling together in pooled groups, if that is their choice.

While news such as this is very tough on workers, the investment is not lost to Tipperary. As I said, the opportunity exists in so many other places where, for whatever reason, companies either consolidate or move. Thus, an opportunity could present itself to another company to set up in Borrisoleigh, hopefully to provide gainful employment.

I will refer the request in respect of IDA Ireland plants to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. IDA Ireland has its own programme, and it has set out for the coming years a series of planned investments in greenfield plants, which I am sure will be very attractive to companies from all over Europe and beyond. While it is a tough day for the workers in Borrisoleigh, those who wish to travel to Clonmel will have the first option on the 80 positions that will become available there. I hope the entity can be marketed as a suitable location for other employment.

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