I join colleagues in underlining just how important it is that we get this Bill right. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is really important legislation for this Dáil. We in Ireland are living with the legacy of many years of underinvestment in capital infrastructure, as my colleague has said. We see it very clearly in the lack of essential flood defences in particular in so many constituencies across Ireland. My colleague, Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí, has highlighted the need for climate adaptation projects at local authority level to be classified as critical infrastructure projects so that they just get done. Storm Chandra inflicted huge damage on communities. We were fortunate at the time that this storm occurred at low tide. We will not always be that lucky when it comes to flooding. Looking at the numbers, of 54 large flood defence projects deemed critical in 2018, 31 remain at preliminary design stage. How is that acceptable? Forget about climate, how is it acceptable that of 54 large projects, 31 are still in design? Ignoring the climate crisis, that is just not acceptable. When you put the climate crisis on top of it, it is even worse. We are not alone in facing those challenges. Countries across the world are recognising that we have to get a fundamental reset between planning regulation and timely delivery of really important flood defence infrastructure. Bad weather has potential to wreak havoc on communities, as we have seen, and the longer we drag our feet, the more people will suffer. Flooding is now a recurring reality for many communities in nearly all parts of this country. Homes are damaged, businesses are destroyed, victims of flooding have to put their lives back together piece by piece with some support from the State - sometimes without some support - and insurance then, of course, disappears. It is unachievable. I also agree with other speakers regarding the climate implications of the Bill. It is really important that we meet our climate obligations and we do not sidestep those. We have to square up to decarbonisation. Finally, I ask that the Aire ensure climate adaptation projects are classified as critical infrastructure so that projects and communities finally get the defences they have been waiting for for so long.

Sentiment score: -0.04