10/02/2014

Minister Accused Of Failing Dublin Flood Victims

Sinn Féin Dublin EU candidate Lynn Boylan has accused Minister of State Brian Hayes of speaking out of both sides of this mouth on recent flooding across the country.

Last week Fine Gael MEPs voted against increasing the European Union's response to climate change.

She said: "Over the last number of weeks Minister of State Brian Hayes has been traipsing around the state offering lots of tea and sympathy to flood victims yet when it comes to delivering real long term solutions Fine Gael has been found wanting.

"Last week Sinn Féin MEP Martina Andersen with other like-minded European parliamentarians called on members to adopt three binding targets to support a greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 60%, a nationally binding renewables target of 45% and a 40% energy savings target, and clear ambitious binding targets to be adopted by each member state.

"Fine Gael MEPs voted against the targets which if implemented would significantly improve the European Union's response to climate change whilst ensuring sustainable growth and the necessary and continued investment in green renewable technology.

"Families in Dublin and beyond are suffering the real human cost of this government's failure to properly invest in flood defence infrastructure once of the consequences of climate change. Some families affected are unable to insure their homes because of repeat flooding.

"Minister Hayes has pretty much washed his hands of any concrete action by government to work with these families to find a long term solution to enable them insure their homes."

(CD/JP)

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