Micheál Martin attacks Government over response to the flooding

The Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin described the current flooding issue as a national emergency that requires an appropriate response from the Government.

He said the Government has been far too slow to respond to the needs of flooded communities.

Mr Martin has said he wants to know where the Taoiseach is - and why he has failed to coordinate a countrywide response to the flooding.

He goes on to say with more heavy rain forecast, a comprehensive response should be put in place and the Defence Forces should be mobilised on a larger scale to help the flood relief efforts.

And Mr Martin accused the Government of being too slow to respond to the needs of flooded communities.

Minister Simon Harris has said he has visited areas in the west - and will travel to counties Westmeath and Kilkenny today.

Minister Harris also defended the Taoiseach's response to the flooding in recent weeks: “I’ve been in daily contact with him as I have said I have visited so far four towns by the end of today,

“I will have been with Minister Kelly in Athlone and also in Kilkenny with six towns and five counties, we are in daily contact with the Taoiseach, but the Taoiseach isn’t just putting on the wellies and doing the Bertie Ahern standing around in a puddle of water saying look at me taking action,

“The Taoiseach is taking action, he is putting the funding in place, the €430m, more that we have ever put before, he set up the flooding group who will report in the spring.

“Whoever is in Government in the spring will have a range of options with regard insurance and other things.”