I propose that the petitions considered by the committee at this meeting and previous meetings be published and that the replies from the Departments and other bodies also be published. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We have four petitions for consideration today. We have already had a detailed discussion on each of them in private session. We now move to our public discussion.

The first petition is P00021/25, on removal of the designation of South Africa as a safe country. We have correspondence from the petitioner.

The recommendation is that it be forwarded to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for its comments within 14 days. Is that agreed? Agreed. Do members have any comments?

Not yet.

Excellent. The next petition is P00028/25 and is entitled, "Implement Immediate Flood Protection Measures in all East Cork Catchments". It is from the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group. We have correspondence from the OPW and Cork County Council. The proposal is that this be forwarded to the petitioner and also be published. Do members have any views on this?

This has been ongoing since Storm Babet and beforehand. The problem here is the urgency of interim prevention, not protection but prevention. It is about trying to prevent the same thing happening again. I am dealing with a lot of these people, obviously, because this is in my area. The roll-out of the flood prevention barriers is very slow. As I said previously, I dealt with one family who can put a flood prevention barrier on the front door but cannot put one on the back door. I do not know what the rationale for that is. It is just crazy.

Yes.

Some of these people are extremely frustrated. I will always give credit where it is due, and I have to say Cork County Council and the OPW have been busting their backsides. Our biggest barrier here is the planning process. There have been a lot of objections, believe it or not. Flood studies have also been done. I think the 2013 catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study was undertaken when the northern relief road was being done in Midleton. It predicted where water could possibly end up if there was a one in one 100 years event, and it actually pinpointed 1.4 m of water down by the railway crossing in my town of Midleton. It showed the possible directions and preventative measures that could have been taken back then. This is goes back to around 2016. A huge barrier, a mound, was to be built at the back of Willowbank, up beyond the Tír Cluain estate. That would have cost around €12,500 at that time. We are now talking about hundreds of millions of euro having been caused in damage. Only two weeks ago, putting that mound in place was mooted as an interim, temporary measure. We are now closing the stable door again after the horse has bolted.

I agree with writing back to the people concerned. I can understand where this group is coming from and their frustration. Clear guidelines were set out. A number of CFRAM studies have been done, but I am referring to this one in particular. I have raised it with four different Ministers since 2016, but they do not seem to take any of the interim measures on board.

In the context of tranche 2, which would be Killeagh, Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and all those areas, I will be totally honest with the people here. Until phase 1 of this scheme is sorted out with the built-up areas and the surrounding areas, tranche 2 is not going to be done. First, there will not be the funding and, second, there will not be the expertise and staff to carry it out until tranche 1 of the flood prevention work is done. I think we will have the Minister of State in the Chamber on Thursday to discuss flooding again. I will raise the matter with him then.

I do understand the fear of the people here. We all know we have been swamped in rain since before Christmas. I get it. I would be ringing people because they are living near the river and keep an eye on water levels for us. Every time there is a yellow warning, not even an orange one, in east Cork, people are absolutely terrified. I know older people who move out of their homes and go to live with their children until the rain passes. I just want to put that on the record. I thank the Cathaoirleach for her patience.

I thank Deputy Buckley for that contribution. We know this is an issue the Deputy has raised at this committee and consistently elsewhere. We could to send on the correspondence, as proposed, and then our actions will be guided by the response from the petitioners. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Our next petition is P00031/25, entitled, "Petition for a Review and Reform of Ireland’s Immigration and Asylum Policies in Light of Public Service Strain and Infrastructure Overload". We have correspondence from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. The proposal is that we publish that correspondence and forward it to the petitioner for comment within a fortnight. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The final petition is P00032/25, entitled, "Review of Inaccessible Public-Facing Buildings in Ireland". This is a petition I am very hopeful we will be able to have a chance to have a discussion on at the committee. It is a very important petition. The points raised will give us all some pause for thought. We know this is an issue that has been ongoing since last year. We have correspondence from the petitioner. By way of response, the proposal is that we write to the OPW to seek a response and forward the correspondence from the petitioner to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for comment. I am minded that we work in a building that could also be due a certain amount of scrutiny. Are members content with that course of action, and that we try to have a hearing on this matter as soon as we possibly can?

I agree with the Cathaoirleach. I think we should alert the authorities here, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, and maybe the facilities division in regard to inadequacies as well. The recent death of the late MEP, Brian Crowley, brought this back to me. I remember when he was nominated to the Seanad by the late Taoiseach Albert Reynolds in January 1993, I think. At that time, there were no mobility measures or provision for people using wheelchairs in Leinster House. I know new facilities have been built since then. At that time, new adaptations were undertaken but I am sure more could be done in this respect as well. We should be very conscious of people who come here who have limited mobility. They should be able to access the different meeting rooms, etc. As the Cathaoirleach said, it is very important.

Yes, absolutely.

It is very important. At the very least, this Parliament and House belong to the people. It just happens to be where we are privileged enough to work. At the very least, it should be accessible and welcoming. Deputy Smith has made some valid points about how far we have possibly not come. I do think this is one petition, on which the members will support us moving to a meeting as soon as is practicable.

Yes.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

That concludes our consideration of public petitions. On behalf of the committee, I invite members of the public to submit petitions via our online portal, which is available at petitions.oireachtas.ie. A petition may be addressed to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a matter of general public concern or interest or an issue of public policy. Do the members have any other business that they would like to raise?

No.

Níl aon ghnó eile againn.