Flood relief allocations
Senator Diarmuid Wilson seeks clarification on distributing relief to victims of Christmas and subsequent floods; the Cathaoirleach also welcomes a gallery visitor.
I second Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I pay tribute to members of the banking inquiry which is publishing its report today and especially the Members of this House, Senators Sean D. Barrett, Michael D'Arcy, Susan O'Keeffe and Marc MacSharry. They did tremendous work to ensure the publication of the report today.
Will the Leader clarify, through his good offices, how money is allocated towards those who were victims of recent floods over the Christmas period and since? I understand the Irish Red Cross has been designated to deal with the allocation of grants to those poor, unfortunate people. However, I also understand that unless a person is a ratepayer, he or she is not entitled to any compensation through the fund administered by the Irish Red Cross. I am aware there is another hardship fund which is operated through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but, for the Government's information, there are people who live in rural Ireland who are not farmers. Will the Leader clarify where the people concerned stand? They live in rural areas but do not pay rates because they are not businesspeople. They are not farmers and do not qualify for the hardship fund from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Unfortunately, for personal reasons I was not able to attend the House for the statements on the motion on local government. I applaud the all-party approach. If some people try to break from the all-party-and-none approach, it is unfortunate. It is the county councillors of this State who are in need of all our assistance and solo runs from anybody in this House or outside it is of no benefit. There may be short-term gain for some Members of this House or the Lower House but the focus should be on ensuring councillors who represent their local communities and who are our electorate are the beneficiaries of a much-needed and long-overdue package that can be achieved for them.
I join Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill in welcoming to the Visitors Gallery Mr. Mervyn Clarke and Mr. Martin Gaffney, friends of mine and businessmen in my local town.
