SINN Féin Councillor Sharon Duddy has welcomed today’s commitment from Met Éireann that they are “looking at ways they can incorporate” weather warnings issued for the North into their own public output.
Met Eireann has said it is looking at ways of including weather warnings north of the Border following criticisms that it is taking a partitionist approach to forecasting.
This week Met Éireann issued a yellow weather warning for ice and snow, but only for the 26 counties of the Republic.
This prompted, and not for the first time, complaints from Sinn Féin that it was ignoring the weather in the North of Ireland.
Said Cllr Duddy: “Met Éireann are an important and crucial service in Irish life; they offer a range of Ireland-wide provisions online and also via their app, both of which are effective and innovative.
“The absence of weather warnings for the North being included on their public output though has caused much controversy and frustration in recent times – not least given the increasing levels of adverse weather events which are becoming a worryingly more regular reality for people.
“All we needed here was some ‘Blue Sky Thinking’ and credit to Met Éireann who have today indicated they are up for that.
“At a time when people are deeply concerned about the reinforcing of borders, it is important that public services ensure they accurately reflect situations across the entirety of Ireland.
“Weather knows no borders, weather warnings shouldn’t either,” she said.
