Fianna Fáil Deputy for Roscommon-Galway Eugene Murphy has been appointed Junior Spokesperson for the OPW and Flood Relief under a list of new portfolios announced yesterday by party leader Micheal Martin.
Micheál Martin announced the details of his party’s junior spokespeople, who will take responsibility for a wide range of issues from the National Drugs Strategy to Food & Horticulture.
Deputy Murphy’s new portfolio will also cover the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme of Studies.
Speaking in relation to his new appointment, Deputy Murphy said “I am delighted to accept this new portfolio as Junior Spokesperson for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief which will focus on communities affected by flooding across the Western region and comes under the Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management (Western CFRAM) Study.
“The CFRAM Study will greatly improve our understanding of where flooding is more likely to happen and its associated frequency. It is vital that we share an understanding of flood risk with local communities and listen to their views on future management approaches and hopefully this will help long-term planning for reduction and improved management of flood risk across the country.”
Deputy Murphy said that many individuals, families and business owners throughout the western region had felt the “devastating consequences” of flooding in recent times and he noted that he planned to immediately begin a process of consultation with farming groups, business owners and communities which have borne the brunt of crisis level flooding. Deputy Murphy also said that it was vital that only one agency would hold responsibility for the River Shannon, rather than the disjointed approach between many different agencies which currently exists.
Speaking in relation to the appointment of Eugene Murphy and the other Junior Spokespeople positions, Deputy Martin also commented: “Fianna Fáil is a party with community at its core, and the portfolios I have announced have community issues at their heart. The Junior Spokespeople that I have appointed represent a mix of experience and new talent, reflecting the strength and depth of the renewed Fianna Fáil team. These appointments follow on from the successful General Election campaign, which saw our Dáil representation doubled, and are indicative of the talent pool that now exists within the party.”
The asignments of the other appointees can be viewed here