Authorities must be better prepared for sharp weather events – Geoghegan

Met Eireann’s statement that it does not have ‘a crystal ball’ for today’s snowfall was churlish, Fine Gael General Election candidate Cllr James Geoghegan has said.

“Nobody expects our national meteorological service to get it right every time, but when forecasts and warnings are understated, it’s important we learn from it,” Cllr Geoghegan said.

“It’s a bit a glib for Met Eireann to say on the radio this morning that it didn’t have a crystal ball when traffic is at standstill with road and footpath conditions in a treacherous state.

“Snow in Dublin or Ireland generally is a rare event, but it can be as dangerous for road users as the risks of a falling tree from high winds, which is why Orange weather warnings are issued.

The Dublin city councillor, who is contesting the next General Elections for Fine Gael in Dublin Bay South, says the scenes across the city today are a reminder of how reliant we have become on the weather warning systems, and what happens when they get it wrong.

“Met Eireann deserve a lot of credit for issuing weather warnings in high winds even if it frustrates parents and forces the closure of schools. There are countless examples in Dublin where tree falling have almost maimed or killed people, who could have been kids walking to school, but weather warnings alerted all to stay indoors beforehand.

“This time, however, we need to acknowledge that the system has failed.

“Just like freak snow events of recent times, there is chaos on the M50, trains had to be cancelled and there is no grit on our footpaths.

“No lessons seem to have been learnt from past events, and whatever about predicting the weather, when the snow does come, our local authorities and public transport providers should have a plan in place to protect public safety and avoid the city simply shutting down,” Cllr Geoghegan said.