Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise again the situation of flooding at Lough Funshinagh in my constituency. Waters have now surpassed record levels and the situation is getting worse every single day. Water levels are now at 69.16 m above sea level and are rising daily. At least five additional houses are now under immediate threat and another farmyard has been destroyed. Older people in their 80s and 90s are looking at their lives' work totally devastated, young families with big mortgages are unable to let their children outside, and this devastation has been allowed to go on and on. Last month, along with my colleague, Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus, and representatives from the community, we met with the director for biodiversity at the European Commission and he was crystal clear with us in saying there is nothing in the habitats directive that prevents a member state from taking emergency action or having emergency legislation where livelihoods are at risk. Livelihoods have been at risk around Lough Funshinagh now for years. So too have lives. At long last, after many years, what is the Government waiting for?

See this speech in context