Farmer delegation outlines flood damage to European Commission

FARMERS from the West and midlands outlined the extent of last December’s flooding to European Commission officials in Brussels yesterday.

The delegation headed by Michael Silke, leader of the IFA’s Flood Project Team, also briefed Irish members of the European Parliament.

Farmers from Galway, Roscommon, Offaly and Westmeath stressed that the European Union must recognise that the massive human suffering and devastation caused last December was related to the total lack of maintenance of river channels all over Ireland. Mr Silke told Commission officials it is not good enough to use the EU Habitats Directive to halt maintenance works, while at the same time, people suffered damage to their houses and livelihoods.

The Commission explained that member states must implement the EU Floods Directive which sets a timeframe for the completion of a flood relief plan and its subsequent implementation. Mr Silke said an opportunity now exists for the Government to take account of the urgent need to keep river channels open.