Sent: Friday 11 December 2020 11:21
To: Patrick O’Donovan <Patrick.ODonovan@oireachtas.ie>
Subject: Proposed Meeting
Hello,
I am responding to your telephone call of 10 Dec 2020 on behalf of the Save Our Shannon Organisation which represents all those residents along the Shannon catchment area who have been affected by the severe flooding over the past 11 years both in Winter and Summer. Since early last July we have been requesting a meeting with you, as OPW Minister, with responsibility for flooding.
We noted the meetings you had with residents, business owners, house holders and victims of flooding in Cork city, Dunmanway, Roscarberry and Clifden, Co Galway during the past Summer.
Following our representations in early July for a meeting with you we were eventually contacted by Peter Burke, TD last October informing us that you were willing to visit our area and meet the people who have suffered terribly as a consequence of flooding. However, this meeting was put on hold due to Covid19.
It is with great dismay that we heard from your secretary, Derek Devaney, that you were not willing to come to our area to meet with these victims of flooding. Instead, you are coming Tuesday 15 December to meet with local TDs and councillors and you did say you would meet with only two members of our organisation.
We are well aware that you travelled long distances from Dublin to Cork, to West Cork and also to Clifden, Co Galway to meet people affected by flooding there. You said on two occasions (in Cork and Clifden) “When you see the damage first hand you fully appreciate the devastation caused to this community”. We are finding it difficult to understand why you can’t come to see the devastation in our area and our talk with our community, who have been flooded for 10 of the last 12 months.
We have already met with TDs from Galway, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Leitrim and Offaly last October. Our prerogative at the present moment is for our group (approx. 6–7 people) to meet with you and show at first hand the cruel and inhuman reality of what people are enduring as a consequence of flooding.
It was our full understanding since October last that you were coming to meet our organisation specifically. With this in mind we have prepared an open-air venue at which proper social distancing etc will be fully adhered to. This venue is less than 5 mins from the OPW base in Athlone. We would greatly appreciate if you would honour your original commitment.
Our group look forward to meeting you.
All the best.
(Hon Sec)