Authorities – and Met Éireann – weathered the critics to make brave and correct calls

THREE people died and tens of thousands will be left without power and water for several days. There is utterly no attempt to overlook these grim facts. But we must also applaud the great work done by the emergency services – and the good judgment and planning behind the overall successes in dealing with Ophelia.

In the Dáil yesterday there was absolutely no demur on the key issues. All parties and Independents congratulated the emergency services, first responders, and local council and other workers who braved the ferocious weather to keep the rest of us safe and well.

There was a special word for the staff at Met Éireann, a service which is frequently criticised. On this occasion there was general agreement the weather forecasters kept the nation bang up to date on what to expect through a day when many of us were in lockdown.

There was a suggestion the service could do with better funding. Given that we are odds on to face more of this extreme weather, probably with increased intensity, in the coming years, that idea must be very seriously considered.

The Met Office was across the extent of the storm on its way as early as last Thursday. Its forecast triggered the nation’s first ever “red alert” announcement on Sunday.

It was a brave move which risked being dubbed “excessive” if the storm did not land in all its expected force. The experience has told us that the assertion by Office of Public Works Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran that this “was no overreaction” was spot on.

The situation had been monitored by the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, under the direction of Seán Hogan (right) from the local authorities end of the Housing Department. This group assembles the widest-imaginable group of people working in the State system at times like this.

It aims to ensure they are talking to each other, their communications work, and that the response is as joined-up as it can be. Mr Hogan’s group is at this work for quite some years now, trying to pull together a

co-ordinated response to things like heavy snowstorms and floods. Its low-key work is proving to be invaluable.

The broad political consensus on the successful response speaks for itself. There were, of course, some important variations which must also be put into the mix.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál

Martin caught the public mood by saying people who defy the advice of emergency personnel should face legal sanction. Labour leader Brendan Howlin raised an important point, saying workers, especially in the private sector, must know whether they are entitled to a day’s pay in these situations. They, and others, raised the issue of Ireland’s laggard response to global warming which is undoubtedly linked to storms such as this. There is also the issue of ensuring the Irish authorities expand and deepen their level of preparations for other challenges.

For now it is enough to give a tip of the hat to the Government. Never fear, normal critical service will resume soon.