O’Brien criticises opposition for “politicising” Storm Éowyn
Mike Finnerty 28 Jan 2025
Newly-minted Minister for the Environment Darragh O’Brien has criticised what he perceives as the “politicisation” of the Storm Éowyn aftermath.
On Monday, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and Aontú called for the Dáil to be recalled instead of waiting until February 5th for the Dáil to sit again.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said “so many people are going through a very tough time with serious disruption to their lives. Hundreds of thousands are without electricity and water and face the uncertainty of more days without supply.”
“Households and communities are dealing with real emergencies. TDs must be given the opportunity to raise these issues and concerns directly with government and to engage on the responses and supports needed; The Taoiseach must urgently recall the Dáil,” she said.
However, Minister O’Brien said after a meeting with the National Emergency Co-ordination Group on Monday “to be very frank, the recall of the Dáil, and maybe people trying to politicise an event like this, is not where we should be at.”
“People should be continuing to support our local authorities, continuing to support our emergency services, to get that power and water restored, to assist.”
“A lot of TDs and councillors are doing this across the country, you’re part of those community groups across the country and actually supporting people, looking after our most vulnerable,” he told reporters.
“No speech in Dáil Éireann is going to restore power or water or assist a community,” the Dublin Fingal East TD asserted.
The Irish government has started to receive help from fellow EU nations Austria and Finland to help with clean-up efforts; it is estimated that over 100,000 people are still without power and water across Ireland as of Tuesday morning and power may not be restored to all homes until after Friday, authorities have warned.
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