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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has rejected suggestions that the government had not taken a co-ordinated approach to preparations for Storm Ophelia.
“This is an evolving situation,” said the Taoiseach, addressing the media just before 11am today. “The response began on Wednesday when the initial warning was given to Met Éireann.”
He said that as a decision was only made last night to apply the red alert warning to the entire country, the decision could only then be made to close all schools and all public service offices.
The Taoiseach said:
Our number one priority today is to avoid any injuries and any loss of life.
On that note, the National Emergency Coordination Group is to meet three times a day while the storm and its aftermath is being assessed.
The main message to the public, however, is to “stay home” and to check on elderly neighbours, before and after the storm.
There will be huge danger in travelling even when winds and rain die down, relayed the Taoiseach, with hazards such as fallen trees and downed power lines not necessarily cleared straight away.
“I would like to thank emergency services and local authority workers, particularly in the south, who are bearing the brunt right now,” said Varadkar. He said that eirgrid and ESB workers would not be sent out to repair damage until it was absolutely safe to do so.
Should private employees be paid if they had to stay home?
When asked why the government had not told private industries and companies to instruct workers to stay at home, when public service workers and schools were told to close, the Taoiseach said it is “up to individual companies” and noted that many private companies were in a position to have people work from home today. He also said that ‘force majeure’ provisions in employment legislation could come into play where people could not make it into work as public transport was off, or it was unsafe to do so.
However, it will still be up to private companies to decide if people should be paid if they could not turn up for work or work from home today.
The Defence Forces have not yet been deployed, but are on standby.
Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, warned that the ripples of the storm could carry on late into the week.
“When we see what is happening in Cork at the present time,” he said, “and look at the destruction and the amount of electricity that is out, if that is to ripple right through the rest of the country, we’re faced with an awful problem tomorrow and right into the weekend.”
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Great news story, a lovely read for a Friday :-)
Fair play to them.
who would thumbs down that comment, wankers!
Fair play lads, I wish you much success.
Thats the sort of innovation Ireland needs.
And they have to leave Ireland, wish they could of stayed in Ireland
Congrats to @patrickc and brother John Collison @collision on latest $18m funding!
This isn’t Twitter you know
Delighted to see these two brothers getting on so well.I am sure they will go far. Fair dews to them.
Fair dues
I stand corrected
They deserve it. Their main product has removed one of the last barriers to market for anyone setting up a new business or wanting to operate a small business. Brillant.
Spot on Peter.
Couldn’t be happier about this. Great people, great product, great investment.
Really amazing entrepreneurial spirit but wish it could have been further developed in Ireland rather than California :)
Why can’t we make it attractive for guys like that to start up/ keep their business in Ireland . What are the politicians doing??
I dont think it can be entirely blamed on politicians..I dont think Ireland has the same startup environment that california has…and I think its a lot to do with our attitude towards entrepreneurs…and lack of VC funding perhaps..I think to imitate an environment like california, Ireland needs a spark, and for lots of people to take risks, both on their own ideas and on other peolpes…and also to think big, these guys obviously have done that but id say they are one of very few in Ireland. Maybe the draw of having like minded people around is what took them to the US?
First time I’ve ever seen a story on the Journal without a single “thumbs down” good work lads.
of course just as I send my comment…………ah well, still a great story
Great news hope it goes well for the young men,best of luck,it’s what Ireland needs at these times
Chris money doesn’t buy genius it’s fairly obvious these boys are something special really proud of them all do I don’t know them
Congratulations to them ! It’s a shame they couldn’t be incorporated in Ireland and employ Irish people, but the truth of the matter is that our universities are not producing graduates of the calibre required to start a tech company and guide it to success .
A corollary to that is the total funding vacuum that exists for tech startups in Ireland , whether it is venture or angel investment. Enterprise Ireland lack the domain knowledge required – a software startup costs peanuts to fund initially ; most of the cost goes on rent and food but EI and their ilk want to give you way more money than you need in exchange for way more equity than you want to give away, on top of ridiculous conditions like needing to hire a minimum number of people and spend a minimum amount which you will then be reimbursed for.
We will never have a so called smart economy if this doesn’t change and we will continue to produce mickey mouse companies that turn a tiny profit and hire a tiny amount of staff.
I don’t agree 100% with the calibre of graduates in Ireland. i think that the problem is more so the numbers of people doing IT/science subjects. There are some pretty smart people coming out of some pretty good courses at the moment but nowhere near enough.
Very well said Eric. The government should make it easier for the existing it contract development community to setup business and go it alone. I have 12 years experience lots of good ideas but I can’t take s year off ti try something without
Free office rent
A grant of about 45 k a year
And free access to broad band and hardware
Give me that enda and in 5 years I would employ at least 5 if not mire people
The thumbs down on the site is getting a bit ridiculous.
@ Chris Gardner – Your very much mistaken these guys went to a public school in Limerick, if their parents wanted elite education for them they could have sent them to Glenstal not far away. The only downfall with this type of talent in Ireland is that we don’t know how to nurture them past the R&D stage. These guys are in the mould of Gates & Zuckerberg,just a shame we couldn’t keep them but the v best of luck to them.
These Brothers while they deserve their hard work it must be pointed out that they came from an enormously priveleged family with basically unlimited resources. They were destined to do well getting every and all help along the way. Not the story of the vast majority of irish young men. As I said I am thrilled they are doing well but I and millions like me never had these priveleges growing or resources. Its a pity all Irish school goers do not get the same equalities and indeed come to school facing enormous disadvantages, We won’t be reading about them anytime soon.
Well done lads.
There should be a http://www.coderdojo.com in every town/village in the country! Time to ditch fable studies and get programming languages into schools!
OMG lads yis are a legend, well done, I’m as proud of you both as if I were your mother! Wonderful…
They’re set up for life then! Well done to them!
Congratulations to you both
The very highest levels of protection must be provided for intellectual property such as this for the most obvious of reasons. I’m certain that the naysayers and petty critics who believe that it’s acceptable practice to thieve from owners of such valuable property will slink to the sidelines while these young lads bask in well deserved glory.
Fantastic achievement lads…well done!
Your welcome Palo Alto, California.
“You’re welcome” dummy
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