Madam, – My wife and I have returned from Parnell Square, Athlone where we have a property rented out. The flood waters were just two doors from our tenant and we are concerned that she may lose her accommodation. We have ensured that she has sandbags and that all moveable property on the ground floor is raised to help ease any hardship which may come her way. We learned that in many cases the sandbags are being stolen from the front doorsteps and that on Monday night the houses in Deerpark at the end of Parnell Square which are completely flooded have had belongings stolen. The owners took the precaution of bagging their belongings and storing them on the first floor.
I hope that the perpetrators are apprehended and their foul deed made public, although I doubt they have any shame in them. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With much of the media portraying the public service as selfish and the private sector as victims, I think it’s interesting to compare both sectors’ response to the floods. The public service cancelled their day of action in affected areas and have worked unsocial hours in difficult conditions to help their communities. Elements of the private sector, meanwhile, have tried to benefit from others’ misfortune by increasing the price of bottled water and plastic drums. The insurance companies are already doing their best to minimise their responsibilities by finger-pointing at the ESB and the county councils. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We are all aware of the Red Cross appeal for the victims of flooding: why can’t we have a church gate appeal? Many of these victims are now destitute.
We had such an appeal for the tsunami victims. – Yours, etc,
Madam, In these times of national disaster occasioned by the severe flooding, the lack of response to the people from our so-called leaders (especially the Taoiseach and the President) is shameful. In these times, the strike by the public service workers is shameful. In these times, the lack of prominence given to the disaster by The Irish Times and RTÉ is shameful.
All the above-named are a disgrace to the nation. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It is widely accepted that the devastating impact of the recent floods will recur unless action is taken to alleviate its causes. While addressing climate change is a global responsibility, we can undertake very effective flood control measures in the short term.
While hugely expensive schemes have been proffered, we do have the economically viable option of planting more forests as a natural and very effective flood control measure. Research has shown that even trees as young as two years old make a perceptible difference to the rate at which water drains into rivers. This effect increases exponentially with older trees. With only 10 per cent of our land area under forests, Ireland has huge scope to plant more trees. In addition to assisting with flood control, forests also provide climate change benefits by locking up carbon as well as providing employment and an economic return to farmers. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I note that Minister Éamon Ó Cuív’s constituency office is located in Flood Street, Galway. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The images of flooded houses and communities throughout the country are truly shocking. The recriminations and finger-pointing have already started. But in the meantime, why has a charity fund not been established? I’m sure that those unaffected and lucky enough to still have jobs would be more than willing to contribute whatever they can.
The general unresponsiveness of central government to this disaster is nearly as shocking as the event itself. Maybe the general public can now show the way. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It was with bewilderment that I listened to Brain Cowen predicting that the flooding situation “would get worse before it got better” (Front page, November 26th). Isn’t it great that he has such insight into the meteorological situation? It’s such a pity that he wasn’t able to transfer this ability to predict the present economic mess when he was Minister for Finance. He would have saved himself a lot more mopping up of the deplorable standards in our banking system. – Yours, etc,