Stormy debate over weather warnings

Cavan councillors have accused Met Éireann and weather analysts of scaremongering by claiming that use of the three tier - Yellow, Orange, Red - warning system has been excessive of late.

It was pointed out at the January monthly meeting of elected members that between November and December last year Met Éireann issued 18 status ‘Yellow’ weather warnings across the country.

But Independent Shane P O’Reilly referenced the story of Chicken Licken, the folk tale about a young chicken who, in the traditional version, believes the sky is falling after an acorn hits their head.

Based on some recent weather reports and warnings, Cllr O’Reilly suggested that those of a “vulnerable disposition” might never leave their homes.

“It’s absolute Armageddon if you were to believe everything you read,” stated the Mullagh-based elected representative, who added that the use of warnings was causing “needless anxiety” in some cases.

Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly agreed, describing the language used in the reporting of severe weather occurrences as “inflammatory”.

She said that, as a result of warnings of rolling black-outs by national broadcaster RTÉ, generators had “sold out” across the country.

“It’s terrifying people,” she added. “It all needs to calm down a wee bit.”

Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty also said that, if the warnings were to be heeded as predicted in some cases, “you wouldn’t get up the next morning”.

Brendan Fay (Ind) meanwhile expressed the opinion that the warnings were yet “another excuse” for insurance companies not to honour policies taken out.

Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley also joined in the commentary, citing the fog and ice warning in place on the day the December meeting of Cavan County Council took place in Glangevlin.

“It seems to have stupefied people,” he said of the warnings, saying that, if a person needs to drive in such conditions, the sensible thing to do is drive more slowly.

“We’ve created these hyper reactions,” the Fianna Fáil representative continued, before suggesting that the media have a responsibility too to “put a little perspective” on their reporting.

“It has the stamp of wanting to be seen to do something,” Cllr Feeley said of the weather warning system in place.