Dr. Tim Forde:

First, on resilience, a lot of work is focused on preparedness and making sure the networks are better prepared for storms to lessen the impact they will have.

On the emergency response, the focus is on us being able to bring services back on. The immediate example of where we should be better prepared for this winter is the mobile network. We have worked with the industry. It has identified a subset of base stations that will be given priority status for hardening before next winter. Many of the operators have already invested in additional battery capacity and mobile generator capacity, which should ensure that those networks would go off air for less time and give a chance to ESB to repair the network. It also allows us to work with local authorities to ensure that we are able to clear routes up to those hilltop sites to allow for the refuelling of generators, etc.

A lot of work is going on at the moment in co-ordinating between us, ComReg, the industry and the local authorities to ensure that we are better prepared should a major event occur this winter. That is a signal of how things will progress. That is at the start of a longer journey to ensure better preparedness is baked in across the sector.