Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The aim of the Bill is to provide for the safety of employees during certain red alert severe weather warnings issued by Met Éireann, to enhance public safety and to ensure the safety of rescue service personnel during such a severe weather warning.

In the immediate aftermath of Storm Ophelia, the Taoiseach rightly acknowledged that there was significant confusion regarding what actions private sector businesses and the self-employed should take when an extreme weather warning was declared. There was a clear mechanism in place for closing schools and public offices and emergency services and local authorities responded to the crisis as best they could at the time but we, as legislators, must now take measures to guide employers, protect workers and strengthen the power of emergency services in the case of future extreme weather warnings.

Three people lost their lives in Storm Ophelia, one of whom was a constituent of mine, and I extend my condolences to the families of those who so tragically lost their lives during that storm. Our Bill would introduce new statutory guidelines for private sector employers and self-employed persons in the event of an extreme weather warning, putting workers' safety front and centre. Storm Ophelia was the worst storm to hit Ireland in almost 50 years. Almost 300,000 homes were left without power, and despite the stark warnings and tragic deaths on the day, we still had incidents of reckless behaviour in Louth, Galway and Kerry. This Bill seeks to impose penalties on those who would put lives in danger through reckless behaviour when an extreme weather warning has been enacted. It also seeks to give An Garda Síochána enhanced powers to pursue such behaviour under the law. I believe the legislation would prevent tragedies during future extreme weather events so I ask that it be supported.

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