As we stand here today protected by the wonderful surroundings of Seanad Éireann, our island is being battered. Mother Nature is certainly putting us all to the test with the wind and the rain. My thoughts are with everyone who is being affected by the extreme weather we experiencing as an island. In my own part of the city, the north side of the city, there was chaos. There was a burst watermain in Fairview. The road had to be closed and homes in Drumcondra, Fairview, North Strand and East Wall out to Clontarf, Bayside and beyond have been without water. I want to acknowledge the work being done on the ground by the local authorities and Uisce Éireann. In particular, I express my sympathy to homeowners and businesses whose homes have been damaged, with some flooded. There is support there for homeowners and businesses. Both the Department of Social Protection and the Department of enterprise have funds and resources available. I encourage people, in these challenging weather conditions, to be cautious, stay safe and look out for and help each other, and then to engage with the authorities on the ground who are available, able and equipped to help, from the local authorities and the emergency services to Uisce Éireann and, as I said, the Departments of Social Protection and enterprise and their local offices. Indeed, I commend the local councillors and TDs who are the ones who often get the first call and those calls can be very distressing. We want to be able to respond in a positive way and I believe everybody is doing their best.

Later today, the Central Statistics Office will release the housing figures for 2025. We all know the key to solving our housing needs and meeting our country's housing needs is increased supply. I look forward to the release of those numbers but, more importantly, I welcome the official opening this week of the latest phase of new homes in the capital city at O'Devaney Gardens. I know other politicians have dedicated their careers to objecting to the building of these homes but I cannot figure out or understand the mentality of objecting to homes being built, particularly in a housing crisis. It seems a bizarre and, I would say, perverse activity. The good news is that 1,046 new social, affordable and private homes are being delivered at O'Devaney Gardens. Good luck to the new residents who will live there. I know there will be a happy, healthy community there and I wish them all well.