Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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410. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with Met Éireann in regard to the language used by weather forecasters on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Met Éireann, Ireland’s National Meteorological Service, comes under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, as a line division of that Department. Met Éireann is the leading provider of weather information and related services in the State with its mission to monitor, analyse and predict Ireland’s weather and climate and to provide a range of high quality meteorological and related information to the public and to specific customers in, for example, the aviation and agricultural sectors. My Department works closely with Met Éireann in the area of climate change and our National Meteorological Service is very supportive in this regard in terms of implementing national climate adaptation policy through its observation, forecasting and climate research and modelling activities. Ireland’s National Adaptation Framework (NAF) which was published in 2018 identifies Met Éireann as a key provider of technical and advisory support and climate services at national level. Met Éireann is also represented on the national adaptation steering committee, which is chaired by my Department and which coordinates climate adaptation policy at both national and local level.

The NAF recognises that the availability of accurate, consistent and authoritative data, information and analysis specific to Ireland is crucial to how effective we are in developing our climate resilience. Both my Department and Met Éireann are keenly aware of the need to communicate such information so that it is understandable, consistent and meets the requirements of a specific target audience, including the general public. My Department will continue to liaise with Met Éireann and be guided by their expertise in relation to these matters.