My question is about flood risk and insurance. A number of people have contacted me because they are not able to get insurance in the first place, or when they want to switch to a different insurance provider they cannot because of the risk of flooding. With the rising possibility of floods in the future, what can the Government do to ensure homeowners and potential buyers are able to secure insurance? The reality is that if it is not covered by insurance, the State is going to have to pay out if there is a flood, as happened in my family's home in Germany.

I dealt with this question yesterday. Our view is fundamentally that the insurance industry has to step up to the plate in many instances. In particular, where the State has completed flood relief schemes and where the infrastructure is in place, I have heard there are still difficulties in getting flood insurance, notwithstanding the investment that has gone in. In that case there is a case for the insurance company to just insure people, because many of those flood schemes have proven to be very effective. I am thinking of Fermoy, Clonmel and areas like that. That is one aspect of it. The other aspect is the State providing some support when floods happen, but it is nowhere near what a comprehensive insurance scheme could provide.