As the National Meteorological Service, Met Éireann issues colour coded weather alerts and warnings for a range of weather hazards, including wind, rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms, low/high temperatures, and coastal winds. These are based on meteorological ‘threshold’ parameters with impact considerations taken into account and the system is aligned with the European MeteoAlarm system. The concept behind the coloured levels of weather alerts and warnings is simple:
- Status Yellow, weather alert – Be Aware;
- Status Orange, weather warning – Be Prepared;
- Status Red, severe weather warning – Take Action.
The issue of Status Red severe weather warnings is a comparatively rare event and indicates that recipients should take action to protect themselves and/or their properties, but the Met Éireann weather warnings do not specify what that action should be.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department works closely with Met Éireann and monitors the alerts and warnings in place and recommends a range of actions which it judges appropriate for the circumstances. If necessary, the National Directorate will convene a National Emergency Coordination Group on behalf of my Department in its role as the Lead Government Department for the response to severe weather events. Having considered the weather forecasts, the timing of likely impacts and other relevant factors, the National Emergency Coordination Group may issue specific public safety advice where it deems this appropriate, or more general safety messages as appropriate for the anticipated conditions. Severe weather warnings issued by Met Éireann and the public safety advice issued by the National Emergency Coordination Group should not be conflated.
It is for individuals and organisations to decide what action to take in response to Met Éireann severe weather warnings or specific National Emergency Coordination Group public safety advice such as advice to remain indoors. I am satisfied that, on the two occasions when a National Emergency Coordination Group issued such public safety advice, it was disseminated effectively and that, in general, individuals and organisations responded appropriately, notwithstanding the challenges that this posed in a number of cases.
It is appropriate for organisations to review their experience of recent events and to include learning points in their business continuity planning which will enable them to judge appropriate actions better for future weather events. Each sector will have its own specific issues.
In general, I understand from my colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation that employment legislation does not impose any obligation on employers as regards the issue of payment of wages for workers who are unable to attend work due to a severe weather warning or safety advice. The Workplace Relations Commission has developed some general guidance for employers and employees in the context generally of inability to attend work due to unforeseen circumstances. I understand this is being reviewed and updated. The current text of the advice is available at: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/news-media/Workplace_Relations_Notices/Extreme_Weather_Events.html.
Met Éireann’s weather warnings are intended to give the public advance warning of a forecasted weather event, allowing people to take action to prepare for and to mitigate the effects of the weather conditions. Determination as to whether it is appropriate for businesses and organisations to remain open, and/or for essential personnel to attend, following the issuing of a Status Red severe weather warning by Met Éireann, requires local judgement based on forecast conditions and the circumstances. The public safety advice issued by National Emergency Coordination Group is more relevant in such decisions.
I am satisfied that Met Éireann’s current weather warning system, which is aligned fully with European best practice and with the MeteoAlarm system, provides sufficient clarity on the predicted type, timing, extent and track of weather hazards and of severe weather. The need for clarity with regard to the distinction between Met Éireann’s meteorological 'threshold' based weather warnings and public safety advice being issued by the National Emergency Coordination Group during the pre-event and response phase of a severe weather event will be highlighted by my Department in its review report on recent severe weather events. I propose incorporating the review of the recent snow event with the review report on ex-Hurricane Ophelia and three other episodes of flooding - Donegal, Mountmellick and Galway City - before bringing a composite report to Government in due course.
