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LAST UPDATE | 11 Dec 2022
SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC transport will continue to operate as normal while icy conditions persist across the country throughout the coming week, according to the government.
The National Emergency Coordination Group convened a meeting today with the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to assess the impact of the current cold snap.
Met Éireann and all governmental departments were in attendance to decide what action may need to be taken in relation to the current severe weather.
The National Emergency Coordination Group has just convened with Minister @DarraghOBrienTD
— Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) December 11, 2022
See @MetEireann for latest weather warnings. For info and advice on winter preparedness, see https://t.co/BDmj1ZG2Nf #BeWinterReady pic.twitter.com/ixuMeAhRi2
Following today’s meeting, a statement from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said public transport system continues to operate as normal and that the public are advised to monitor transport providers websites and social media channels for updates.
It also confirmed schools are to remain open as normal this week.
Widespread gritting is to continue, as well as ploughing where necessary, while Local councils have activated their winter maintenance plans.
Speaking after today’s meeting, Minister O’Brien said: “We will continue to monitor the ongoing weather conditions and ensure that all arms of the state are responding speedily and appropriately to meet any challenges.
“I would advise everybody to monitor national and local media, including social media, over the coming days to keep up to date with information regarding the developing weather situation.
“Above all, make sure you stay warm and safe and keep in touch with vulnerable or elderly neighbours.”
He added: “The message to people is that life will go on as normal, everything will remain open, but we just want people to remain careful, especially on the road”.
O’Brien added that emergency plans have been “up and running for the past couple of days” and that he is confident that essential services will be provided.
He also dismissed the likelihood of a Status Red warning and said supply to the energy grid is stable and that he has received a “positive outlook” from EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland.
Minister O’Brien was also asked about the situation regarding asylum seekers in tented accommodation.
As of Friday, close to 100 international protection applicants were being housed in tented accomodation in Knockalisheen, Co Clare.
In response, Minister O’Brien said: “In relation to the situation with regard to those seeking international protection, including the instance in Clare, those families and those individuals have been moved out and will not be staying in the temporary sheltered accommodation this evening.
“We discussed that at the meeting and alternative accommodation is being sought. They will not be sleeping in the sheltered accommodation this evening or for the rest of the week.”
Forecast
A Status Orange low temperature and ice warning for the entire country will run from 5pm today until 12 noon tomorrow.
The forecaster is warning that a severe frost and further icy stretches will set in tonight, accompanied by patches of freezing fog, with temperatures likely to fall below -5 degrees in many areas.
A Status Yellow low temperature / ice warning has also been extended until 12 noon on Friday, 16 December.
Status Yellow Warning has been extended until Friday 16th December. See @MetEireann for latest warnings and forecasts. See https://t.co/BDmj1ZGACN for:
— Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) December 11, 2022
❄️Preparing for severe weather
🚘Travel and road safety
👥Community resilience
🏠Keeping your home/business safe https://t.co/LnYkMh7Xos pic.twitter.com/DhkyZiJzqF
Met Éireann said possible impacts include treacherous conditions on paths and roads, travel disruption, potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines, and increased risks to vulnerable members of the community.
A Status Yellow warning for snow was in place until 12 noon today for Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, while a similar warning will come into place for Donegal and Mayo tonight.
The Status Yellow ice and snow warning for Donegal and Mayo will run from 11.30pm tonight to 12 noon tomorrow and substantial levels of snow is expected over high ground while snow showers will lead to accumulations in places.
Meanwhile, a Status Yellow ice warning is also in place until 11am this morning in the North in counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Derry.
Elsewhere, the winter weather advisory for the country has been extended until 12 noon on Wednesday.
Met Éireann predicts that it will remain very cold into the middle of next week due to an Arctic airmass, bringing sharp to severe frosts, and ice or black ice on roads and footpaths.
Some showers of hail, sleet, and snow will also occur, mainly in coastal counties and freezing fog is likely at times.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport said this morning that “the first wave of departures has taken off successfully without any delays.”
Airlines have also advised they “expect to operate a normal schedule today with a minimum of cancellations”.
More than 50 flights were cancelled yesterday, while over 140 were cancelled on Friday.
However, Dublin Airport is advising passengers that they “should continue to check the status of their flight with their airline in advance of travel”.
With the extremely cold weather due to continue into the middle of next week, intending passengers should continue to check the status of their flight with their airline in advance of travel. pic.twitter.com/KVsPU5Fy9x
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 11, 2022
However, Aer Lingus has warned that it is “experiencing challenges with our London Heathrow operation due to freezing fod conditions there”.
As a result, some London Heathrow services have been cancelled and those travelling to Heathrow are advised to expect delays.
All Aer Lingus customers have been advised to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) December 11, 2022
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised motorists to keep abreast of local and national weather forecasts before setting out on a journey.
Motorists should carry a screen scraper and de-icer to clear their windows and mirrors before undertaking any travel.
However, hot water should not be applied to the windscreen as it can crack the glass, the RSA said.
Freezing fog and black ice advice
It offered the following advice for fog and freezing fog conditions expected over the coming days:
The RSA has also offered this advice for black ice:
Additional reporting by Eoghan Dalton
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I bet the refugees are not put into their areas
@Pauline Cahill: what areas would they be??
@Pauline Cahill: what a stu&@d comment
@Pauline Cahill: Ballymum Community groups were there, Finglas Community groups were there, East Wall Community groups were there, joining all of the anti racism individuals and groups…
@Pauline Cahill: Eh? Where should they be put?
@Graham Crosby: Where do you think they put them Stupid comment
@Pauline Cahill: I have a hostel full of refugees 50 metres from my building and I would rather have 2 more of those than being anywhere near ignorant, bitter racist fools. This very same hostel has been severely damaged by some idiot with a hammer who repeatedly tried to smash the thankfully very tough glass, it’s cracked in 5 spots but didn’t break.
I’ve opened my home to a refugee from Syria in the past and would gladly do it again. This was 8 years ago and we’re still in touch, he went on to being a successful photographer in Germany.
The only minority that should never be welcomed anywhere is hate and fear mongers and fascist agitators.
@Rui Firmino: Well said.
Interesting video on social media. Lots of protesters asked to sign up to house an unverified migrant and all refused.. action speaks louder than marching and empty rhetoric. Let’s get real about this issue. Everyone in favour of housing migrants in your area contact the government. And stop the sham of marching
@Tony Lewis: doesn’t sound like a particularly interesting video
@Tony Lewis: @Ciaran Forde: interesting way of changing hearts and minds, doorstep them to within an inch of their fluffy comfortable lives.
@Tony Lewis: so because we want to see our taxes go to help people in need we should also have strangers sharing our homes? How about the ‘Irish first’ brigade
@Tony Lewis: so because we want to see our taxes go to help people in need we should also have strangers sharing our homes? How about the ‘Irish first’ brigade, have they all invited the Irish homeless to live with them?
“Ireland is not full as the population is lower than pre famine numbers”……So are we supposed to set up sod roofed ramshackle dwellings on every crossroad in the country. What a weak argument, absolute nonsense statement…..
@antisocialbarber: Let me help you here. Compared to other countries Ireland is sparsely populated. Compared to Ireland other countries talk in a lot more people per Capita. Most of these people do not want to be here. They’d rather be at home. Demonizing them shames the history and people of Ireland who struggled through the ages against prejudice and discrimination. They struggled to survive, for their families. Most of these people are in the same situation.
@Misty Eyed Mutton: So we welcomed c100,000 refugees in 2022, only the population of Galway city in one year but as you say, Ireland is sparsely populated so what not another 100,000 in 2023, wh Misty? That would bring it up to the population of Cork City in 2 years. Then if/when Serbia starts a war with Kosovo, the poor Kosovans who don’t want to come to Ireland will find a warm welcome here. Then the climate refugees from sub-Saharan Africa in the 2030s….as you say Ireland is empty let’s welcome everyone, eh Misty! Yay!
@Misty Eyed Mutton: I was commenting on the ridiculous statement. I’m pro immigration and helping Ukrainian displaced people.
You’re obviously still full of adrenaline from your marching today. Cool the jets please. Lots of virtue signaling going on at the moment. Try not to get too swept up…..
@Misty Eyed Mutton: yet on video a group of protesters today advocating for the refugees when asked to sign up to house one not one person signed and a one person abused the person asking the question. Action speaks louder than words etc etc
@antisocialbarber: Everybody worked on the land ,lived on the land and died on the land back then. Farmers are a minority in this country atm. we are mostly all urbanites now so comparing now to the famine era is a complete cop out.
@antisocialbarber: can’t , Ryan banned turfcutting so no sod shacks
@blue exile: Exactly. You said it better than me
@ed w: Maybe we can import German/European turf products. Seems to be a common practice for a certain fuel retailer
@Rob Dowling: catastrophise much?
Sure you can protest for what you believe is right, but here are the facts: at the last Sunday Independent survey asking if Ireland has taken too many refugees, only 30% said No.
A vast majority think we cannot accommodate mass immigration at present.
one question for the organisers of todays march. if refugees/migrants assylum seekers are all welcome, where are we putting them ??
@blue exile: any more ultra simplistic questions?
Are the slogans which were used on this march really correct? Ireland cannot literally take all comers. To do so would be unsustainable. I would have liked to see some acceptance, by the organisers, that numbers of Ukrainians may have to be limited for a period, and that wages in low-paid jobs can be depressed by large scale immigration.
A crisis of a community so squeezed by the government they do not have a moment spare to think beyond providing for their families, let alone supporting others. It’s a tragedy that paye workers are no better off than 1980’s Ireland, at least back then there were options to go abroad, but now those places don’t have the same opportunities. The government know this and it’s why they will not help the folk that keep this country running. Then there’s the constant negative micromanagement by employers. You’d be ready to retire before you’re 50 in this country due to total burn out, but will be lucky if that happens before 70, if you live that long.
Punch up, don’t kick down. It’s not the ones suffering below you that are causing the problems, it’s those with power at the top.
@Diarmuid Hunt: What does that even means We are talking about economic migrants coming into and destroying their ID so we dont know who they really are and abusing the asylum process .
@Robert Preston: Are they the root of the issue?
@Diarmuid Hunt: No but they are making the problem worse . Anyone that comes to Ireland and destroys their ID is up to no good . Why would you want to conceal your past .
“All immigrants are welcome apart from the British ones who have lived here for centuries”–Bernadette McAliskey
@Patrick Condon: learn your history the Norman’s were invited into Ireland which in turn lead to the English coming we were never invaded by the English
@Larry O Reilly: so, as per, well history what was the “The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland that took place during the late 12th century”?
@Larry O Reilly: Patrick posted a quote, I didn’t check to see whether it’s true or not but you’re telling Patrick something that needs to be said to Bernadette.
@Ruairí Bulger: unfortunately you are also wrong the Anglo-Norman were invited to Ireland to help Dermot Mc Muragh regain his lands in Leinster a Knight ref to as Strongbow or Richard de Clare came to Ireland with the promise of marriage to Dermot Mc Muragh daughter who he did indeed marry at the Rock of Donamse in kildare and upon Dermot death became King of Leinster if you require any further information let me know
@Diarmuid Hunt: why
@Larry O Reilly: Why didn’t I check it or why are you telling someone to learn their history based on something they didn’t say but quoted due to the fact that person was mentioned in the article?
@Diarmuid Hunt: before someone comment they should know there facts not speculate
@Larry O Reilly: Eh… Cromwell maybe? Eh? Queen Elizabeth 1 and plantations… I must be missing something
@Larry O Reilly: Eh… Larry… That wedding was in Waterford, and the Rock of Dunamase is in Laois.
The country is toxic, entirely caused by senior civil servants and Europe(you couldn’t credit the politicians with anything, they’ll admit if asked they actually have no authority on anything other than a bit of tarmac and a hedge cut).
@Fintan Stack: They do have authority in immigration matters:
1) INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION ACT 2015: International Protection is inadmissible if you come from a SAFE Country, e.g. Georgia, Algeria, Somalia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe. (60%+ of our migrants).
2) AMSTERDAM TREATY: Ireland has No EU obligation to take in migrants. No sanctions for not taking them.
3) DUBLIN III REGULATIONS: Migrants travelling to Ireland via another EU country can be sent back to this country for processing.
Childish love messages from this group Is not the way to go about fixing our crisis IM sorry and I feel this movement of love and solidarity while it speaks to everyone on a day to day level as who would not want that right ..?
But the facts remain AND we First have to tackle OUR CRISIS ….we cannot keep going about this matter without solutions and concrete answers or else we will get no where at all ….
Time to take off the rose tinted glasses and put it to a people vote and let the IRISH majority have there say once and for all it’s the only way out of all this entanglement because I don’t see how it’s possible to keep welcoming the world when we are already are in a crisis we have got to be real and make real decisions on OUR future as a country
We are not to blame headline is an oxymoron. Who but Irish people are harassing the refugees and immigrants?
‘A crisis of capitalism’? Many of the IFA protesters there where very…very well heeled. I wonder how that phrase went down?
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