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TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has extended his “deep condolences” to those who have lost friends and family members in the unrelenting wildfires that have devastated parts of California in recent weeks
Martin released a statement this evening saying that Ireland “stands in solidarity with the people of Los Angeles at this time”.
He also said that the fires had affected “a small number” of Irish citizens and that the Consulate-General of Ireland in Los Angeles has been providing assistance and advice, including “resources on shelter lists, health advisories, information on relief and other resources”.
“For over a week, together with all Irish people, I have watched with horror as devastating wildfires have ravaged the Los Angeles area, causing destruction for thousands across southern California,” the Tánaiste said.
“I want to extend my deep condolences to the families and friends of those who have been lost in the fires. My thoughts are with those who have been forced to evacuate and those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.”
Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, encouraged Irish citizens in the area who have not already registered with the Consulate-General to do so by visiting the website here.
Southern California residents continued to face dire new wildfire warnings and power shut-offs today while they prepared to flee at a moment’s notice as strong winds blasted across the charred landscape.
The winds, predicted to reach near-hurricane force in some areas, were expected to peak this morning before easing and then regaining strength later in the day.
A beefed-up firefighting force was in place to attack flare-ups or new blazes.
A week after the first fires began, the flames have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
“Life-threatening and destructive and widespread winds are already here,” LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley told a news conference.
More than 75,000 households, mostly in Los Angeles County, were without electricity on Tuesday morning in the blustery conditions, according to Southern California Edison, which shut off power in areas of high risk to prevent their lines from sparking new fires.
Santa Ana winds gusted up to 50mph before sunrise in the mountains around LA, said meteorologist Todd Hall of the National Weather Service.
Strong winds were expected to continue until midday on Wednesday and could carry embers miles ahead of the fire lines or trigger fire tornadoes, he said.
Much of southern California was under an elevated fire risk on Tuesday, from San Diego to far north of Los Angeles into Ventura County.
Facing the greatest risk were inland areas north of LA, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley, forecasters said.
The weather service issued a rare warning for Tuesday: the winds, combined with severely dry conditions, have created a “particularly dangerous situation”, meaning that any new fire could explode in size.
With reporting from Press Association
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Excellent article, the Irish state must have the best minds on this. Apple may be a one-off, but if anything is found re the Apple tax arrangements the investigators will be looking at other multinationals located in Ireland.
Apples is not a one off but at least they can justify their tax deal with the amount if people they employ here. There are several companies who employ very few here that have similar deals
The EU is not interested in how many people they employ. They are interested in tax rules. And they will fine if they find fault and as usual not care about potential damage to the people of Ireland.
It’s quite shocking how people wrap themselves in the national flag to defend these highly questionable tax arrangements. Apple has made staggering profits, paying hardly any tax in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU. It contributes very little to the Irish or European economy. In a time where the poor and vulnerable are paying the highest cost for economic crisis it is only fair that these multinationals pay a fair share.
It’s not that black and white. They leave Ireland – then say goodbye to over 3000 jobs in Cork. It would be catastrophic to the area.
indeed it would be “fair” that Apple does not take advantage of a favourable tax deal with Ireland. It would be “fair” that it paid tax in France for the profit made in France. The point here is that it would be a serious blow to the Irish economy because, yes, we are partly funded by the money we unfairly allow companies to not pay into other countries’ tax coffers. Any return to “fairness” here would be our loss. So if you want fairness, be prepared to pay more tax, Dom, as we may soon lose the taxes (unfairly) paid by Apple here.
If there is proved to be a sweetheart deal with Apple, as opposed to Apple taking advantage of a loophole, we should not defend the indefensible. We should close the gaps open to creative accounting, remove the Double Irish loophole and lower the corporation tax rate to 9% to offset losses. Our tax regime should be airtight legally, but low in percentage.
Hi Neil
Thanks for the comment.
The matter is not one of defending the action, it is about defending the country from having to pay a fine that would wreck the public finances. Companies are now being fined close to €1Bn. A similar or larger fine would do horrible damage to the country.
Bye, bye apple. The core is now rotten. Time to plant the seed somewhere else. USA up to its old tricks again.
Apple metaphors. Nice.
Scary
Are people not aware you or I would go to prison if we engaged in the same practice’s as Apple and the rest. Tax dodging is tax dodging end of. While they might benefit cork., they do nothing for our economy as a whole. So we continue to get hit with more taxes while these parasites avoid contributing.
13 trillion folks and that is only the tip of the iceberg of what these parasites are hiding in taxes globally. Wake up.
so say they find ireland and apple clean does this mean the irish state can sue the US senate and newspapers and media that actually might not of done any back checking at all so we could get rid of water charges and property tax cause that would be swell but you know thats a if ireland are clean sure we will be grand ;)
Our problem is we think if we don’t give into these big companies they will leave, now its too late we did it once too often. The Governments have over the years sold this Country
as a free for all, just look at the expense of medicines here the highest in Europe. Our government thinks thats ok.
Sure they will pay they wont say a word
Lets show them by uniting next Saturday for the water rates, and we wont stop there.
Why do we sell ourselves short
Interesting.
have your say