Irish MEPs have called for the EU to actively plan for future extreme weather events in light of the impact of Storm Chandra across Ireland, and to make extra funding available to help protect people against "the new normal".
Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, as well as Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly, raised the matter during a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg - a view supported by other Irish MEPs.
Speaking during a European Parliament debate on extreme weather events in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and other countries in recent months, Mr Cowen said in his view "extreme weather is now the new normal".
The MEP for Midlands/North West said the extreme weather funding supports system across the EU should also be "applied swiftly" to Irish people and businesses impacted by Storm Chandra.
Mr Cowen said while environmental planning delays "matter", they, in his view, should not lead to flood protections and other measures being "delayed".
Mr Mullooly, who is an MEP for the same European Parliament constituency, said solutions to what is happening are "not rocket science".
He said "accurate meteorological information" should be "shared locally" in order to address "the wrongs" taking place.
Mr Mullooly said people should not be "waiting for the alarm to go off" and told colleagues "to fail to plan is to plan to fail".
Ms Ní Mhurchú, MEP in Ireland South, issued a similar call for action as Gaeilge, and said she believes there is a need for clear supports from Ireland and the EU for people affected by extreme weather events.
