Still not on a storm footing

Climate council says not enough done to tackle shortcomings

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

SHORTCOMINGS exposed by monster storms Darragh and Eowyn that battered the country have not been addressed, it's been claimed.

The Climate Change Advisory Council launched a scathing attack on the Government and declared not enough "tangible action" has been taken to tackle the failures ahead of this year's storm season.

Storm Darragh, which was a powerful extra-tropical cyclone, battered Ireland on December 6 last year. Several counties were placed under a red warning.

A gust of 141kph was recorded at Mace Head with nearly 400,000 losing power across the country.

Widespread travel delays also caused the cancellation of multiple flights at both Cork and Dublin airports.

The following month, Storm Eowyn wreaked havoc on the country once again on January 24.

The entire country was placed under an orange alert ahead of its arrival which was later upgraded to a red warning.

The highest gust was again recorded at Mace Head. The weather station recorded a 183kph gust which blew an 80-year-old record from 1945 out of the water.

Up to one million homes, particularly in the west of Ireland, were without power.

Hundreds of thousands were also without water.