Speaking after the Environment Committee meeting this evening (Tuesday) Fine Gael Cork Senator Jerry Buttimer said Minister Gormley is still stalling on an independent investigation into events surrounding recent flooding in Cork.
“The Minister continues to fudge the issue, refusing to furnish the people of Cork with an independent enquiry and answers to how and why things went so wrong in Cork.
“Cork needs answers as to how an estimated €100 million worth of damage was perpetrated on the city. With reports publically stated by the ESB completely at variance with reports presented to Cork City Council by its manager, Joe Gavin, an independent study of what went on is the surest fire way to get to the bottom of the chronology of events.
“The Minister has continually given two fingers to the people of Cork by not commissioning an independent study. His reliance on enquiries carried out by the Committee is completely inadequate in place of a fulsome and autonomous investigation and is a betrayal of the people of Cork.
“Responsibility for the floods that wreaked havoc on the lives of so many must be taken. Minister Gormley must stop fudging the issue and ascertain once and for all the facts surrounding the lead up to the release of water from the Innisacrra Dam, the method of communication between the different agencies involved and with local people and businesses so that questions can be answered definitively and similar tragedies can be avoided in the future.”