The Daily Star Ireland
In the wake of Storm Éowyn, which lashed Ireland with unprecedented ferocity, there have been increasing calls for the immediate recall of the Dáil to deal with the crisis. The “once in a generation” storm has indeed caused destruction that raised many eyebrows; hence, a call for rapid action by the government.
Storm Éowyn has devastated large swathes of the country, causing large-scale destruction to infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. At one point, more than 768,000 properties were without electricity; now, the latest figures show around 300,000 homes and businesses are without power. The relenting storm had taken several people’s lives that included a 20-year-old man in County Donegal who died because a tree fell on him.
The ferocity of the storm has left local authorities and emergency services swamped, with emergency response hubs being opened in some of the worst-affected counties to provide water, food, phone charging and washing facilities. But the extent of the disaster has heaped pressure on the Government to invoke a co-ordinated national response.
Calls for Dáil Recall
Given the extent of the damage and ongoing disruption, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin seeking the immediate recall of the Dáil. McDonald said it was imperative that the crisis be treated as a priority, adding that the government must utilize all resources available to support affected communities and ensure essential services are restored.
The call for the Dáil’s recall underlines the critical role that national leadership must play during such crises. The government can bring together elected representatives and formulation of comprehensive strategies to speed up the recovery effort, making sure support reaches those most in need.
How the government heeds these calls will be key in determining what direction the recovery of the nation takes. More immediate priorities involve restoring power and water supplies, clearing debris to reopen roads, and providing financial assistance to people and businesses affected by the storm.
There is also an urgent need to review the resilience of Ireland’s infrastructure in their ability to bear such extreme weather in the future. It will be highly important that strengthening critical systems and preparing good emergency response plans must occur, in order to lessen the impact of such an occurrence in the near future.
Éowyn’s storm aftermath has left Ireland with challenges that are really huge and need to be done as soon as possible. The recalling of the Dáil was an imperative move for the organization of a national response and the support of communities affected. All together, with leadership, Ireland will find a way out through this crisis into a resilient future.
