He said: “What the evidence is showing is that storms are far more severe, and they’re becoming more severe, and also the frequency of such severe storms is now without question, and therefore we have to do a fundamental re-evaluation of the grid, for example, in terms of its resilience; also in terms of back-up for the water system, in terms of at a minimum, back-up generators; also then investing in local networks.”.
“I think it’s really important when this immediate phase of recovery is over and I’m conscious – this is dragging on a long time for people now – when this phase is over, I think it’s very important that we don’t just have some sort of ‘look back’ exercise like we have after any storm, but that we have a much bigger, deeper dive in terms of how communities, how local authorities, can be better prepared,” said Mr Harris.
Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore said the government can no longer “wash its hands” of the response and said Environment and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien should answer questions.
She said the Dail should have sat last week to discuss the storm response and the thousands of people left without power, water and broadband.
She said that the party was calling on Mr O’Brien to answer questions about the government’s response, what the plan was and the response next time around.
