Micheál Martin made the comments at a Cork Chamber Virtual Breakfast Meeting this morning
His comments come just two days after business and homes in the city and county suffered millions of euro worth of flood damage.
He told the meeting that he hopes those involved in the judicial review will reflect on their actions and allow the plan €150 million plan to proceed.
Minister for the OPW Patrick O'Donovan visited the city on Tuesday and said that while groups like Save Cork City may have legitimate concerns, people's lives and livelihoods are risk due to the lack of progress.
Save Cork City say they are saddened to see people in difficulty, but they have serious concerns about how changes to groundwater are connected to the subsidence of buildings.
Speaking at this mornings Cork Chamber virtual briefing, Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the flood relief scheme has to happen:
