Call for reductions in Christmas lighting displays in Sligo as energy concerns grow
A LOCAL councillor wants Sligo County Council and householders to cut back on Christmas light displays to ensure electricity is available for more essential uses such as health care. Cllr Martin Baker told members of Sligo County Council they may well think he was “off his head” to make the suggestion, but he believes that if the energy crisis does result in power cuts, as has been predicted, there should be less Christmas lights turned on and those that are lit up in towns and villages should be turned off earlier than 2am which, he said, is the usual switch off time in many places.
Supporting a motion from councillor Tom Fox who asked Sligo County Council to detail plans they have to deal with a potential power crisis, Cllr Baker said if there were power outages it was more important that electricity would be used to run health equipment than Christmas lights.
“If we are lighting up our towns for Christmas, I would suggest we don’t have the lights on ‘til two in the morning, we should keep them to basic hours.
“We are going to have to show some leadership on this. You might think I am off my head, but I think that it’s more important for people who are depending on electricity for use for their health equipment, I think that is the most important thing.
The cathaoirleach, Cllr Michael Clarke joked: “Cllr Baker, if you are gone off your head, there is no hope for the rest of us.”
Cllr Baker continued: “For one year I think we should lessen up a bit on lighting up our houses at Christmas. I know it’s nice to light up our villages, but if we are going to be draining the electricity for more essential things, I think it is something where we have to show leadership on,” he said.
Cllr Baker said he also thought that last Monday’s power outage in Sligo and parts of Leitrim may have been “scaremongering” to give people a sense of what it would be like not to have power. More than 30,000 consumers were left without power and a number of traffic accidents were reported in Sligo town where all traffic lights were out of order as a result of the power cut: “In relation to the outages this (Monday) morning, I would have two minds on it. I think there was a bit of scaremongering going on to see how we would cope without electricity.
“Definitely if we believe what is being said, there is going to be major problems at Christmas time and one thing that stands out in my mind is that we should try and keep our electricity for major use.
“The first thing I would think is ye all go overboard on lighting up for Christmas and I’m afraid this Christmas is going to be very dark for a lot of people. Can we show leadership on that, maybe that we don’t have the lights on in our towns until two in the morning, we should keep them to basic hours, we are going to have to show some basic leadership.”
Cllr Fox said considering the soundings being made about possible power outages this winter he was asking the council to indicate what plans they have or will put in place to deal with a crisis situation where outages were to occur this winter.
His motion read: “Given the increased dependence by householders and businesses throughout the county on the electricity system, and with recent warnings about power outages this winter, is there a plan in place by this council in preparation to address if such a crisis situation were to occur.”
Cllr Darragh Mulvey, who seconded the motion from Cllr Fox, said it was a situation that was new to some people. “This will be a national debate, people will have strong views over the coming months, but it is very clear that a sustainable method of supplying energy is going to be needed,” he said.
Cllr Baker agreed: “It’s certainly something we are very aware of when we read the national newspapers. The fear amongst people is they will be hit with a possible tariff if they use electrical appliances during peak usage times.
“Most people when they come home in the evening from work turn on washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers between five and seven o’clock and the fear now is will they be punished for doing that by way of an increased tariff or asked to use their appliances at an off-peak time. “I think it would be a lot easier to ask big businesses to coordinate their usage of power and to ensure they avoided those peak hours from five to seven in the evening rather than trying to encourage thousands of householders not to use their power during those times,” he said.
Cllr Baker said there would be incentives and campaigns along the lines of ‘beat the peak’ to encourage people not to use electrical appliances during peak times.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know what the winter will bring, but we don’t want to see a scenario where elderly and vulnerable people depending on heat and light are left without electricity,” he said.
Referring to Monday’s major power outage, Cllr Donal Gilroy said it served to underline the need for the council to have a plan in place to deal with further possible power cuts: “We should have a plan in place - today a I was coming to this meeting all the traffic lights were out - we need to think about public safety most of all,” he said.
Cllr Baker, proposing a related motion, calling on the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to introduce measures to make it easier for consumers to switch to another supplier, said it was unfair for persons struggling to pay bills to get caught for extra payments if they do not pay their bills in a particular time frame. “It grieves me badly, but there are definitely a lot of people very worried out there,” he said.
Cllr Fox said one of the reasons he tabled the motion was because there was such a level of concern among people about the cost and the availability of power mid-winter.
He asked if the Council had engaged and liaised with the necessary Government departments to ensure the public will be guided in the direction of assistance in the event of power outages occurring in County Sligo, similar to what we had during Covid.
“We have a lot of vulnerable people out there and they will be lost without power. Sligo County Council available directing the public to where help can be given,” he said.
Cllr Paul Taylor asked if the Council had been hearing the same type of rumours as Cllr Fox was talking about. “Will there be trouble with electricity in the coming months and have we to make provisions available.
Surely, if that was the case the departments would be contacting the Council because they are such a huge body, to make them aware.
“I know the word scaremongering has been mentioned as well, and that could be the case,” he said.
Chief Executive of Sligo County Council Martin Lydon said: “It is the job of the Government and the electrical companies to tell us [Sligo County Council] and inform us of any requirements we need to put in place and they haven’t.”
He added: “We will not be doing anything until such time as we receive information because, after being involved in a number of crises in the last three years, something I have learned is not to jump in with both feet. Better to stop, listen, look, take advice from the relevant parties and when you have clear, concise information to give people, then you start communicating.
“If you start communicating too early it will be total mixed messages everywhere and I think that would be a danger.”
Cllr Fox: “Thank you for the feedback. We don’t want to raise the public’s anxiety over this, but it is an issue that we need to be aware of.”
SLIGO Rovers European ambitions effectively hung in the balance yesterday, Wednesday as a disciplinary hearing regarding the alleged fielding of an ineligible player took place.
The club was brought before the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit following a charge in relation to midfielder Adam McDonnell, who the FAI contest was listed as unavailable due to suspension, in last week’s 2-0 win at home to Dundalk.
Sligo Rovers confirmed on Monday evening that the charge had been issued to them and their were seeking legal advice in their intention to appeal the decision as they highlighted that any error which could have occurred was due to conflicting information conveyed to them by the FAI.
It is understood that the club received emails in relation to upcoming suspensions which contradicted each other as one included Adam McDonnell’s name, while another email did not list him as suspended.
In a statement issued to supporters and members on Monday evening, Sligo Rovers said: \2Sligo Rovers wish to inform supporters and sponsors of a notice received this afternoon to appear before the FAI disciplinary control unit (DCU) later this week.
“The charge arises out of Adam McDonnells appearance against Dundalk recently when allegedly suspended.
“The potential sanction in the event of an adverse finding is an overturning of the result. “The club received contradictory communications from the FAI on Adams possible suspension. Legal advice has been taken and the club will be represented at the FAI hearing. “A further update will issue later in the week.” At the time of going to press yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, the outcome of the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit hearing had not been announced.
In the event that the club was found to have wrongly fielded an ineligible player, the three points from that game will be expunged and a 3-0 win instead awarded to Dundalk.
If Sligo Rovers are successful in their appeal there will be no change to the league standings. Sligo Rovers currently find themselves seven points adrift of fourth - a place in the table which can secure UEFA Europa Conference League qualification should a top three team win the FAI Cup.
Fourth spot is currently occupied by St Patrick’s Athletic, who are understood to also face a hearing in relation to a postponed game against Shelbourne who are making a case for being awarded all three points from the unfulfilled fixture.
If Rovers are docked three points, it will leave them 10 points behind Pat’s, making their already difficult pursuit of a top four finish an even steeper challenge with just eight games left in the current season. Rovers face points deduction over ineligible player - but club appeal on grounds of “contradictory communications” from FAI