By Veronica Corr
Tánaiste Simon Harris visited Monaghan Civil Defence HQ on Tuesday evening of this week to find out more about what the voluntary organisation were doing in the wake of Storm Éowyn. The Tánaiste, who was visiting in his capacity as Minister for Defence, spoke briefly to The Northern Standard about his visit to the county. The Government Minister, who also holds the portfolio for Foreign Affairs, said that he had just come from Belfast, where he had been meeting political parties based in Northern Ireland.
“I was very conscious of the fact that Monaghan had been very badly hit by the storm, and I really wanted to be here today to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all the people working across the agencies. Particularly, in my new role as Minister for Defence, I wanted to thank the Civil Defence volunteers for the incredible work that they’re doing. “I had the opportunity to drop in to the local crisis management team meeting hosted by Monaghan County Council in the Fire Station next door, and I must say I am really encouraged and proud to see all the agencies coming together, sitting around the table. “You’ve seen the huge efforts that the Civil Defence are going to. Deputy David Maxwell asked me to call and say ‘hello and thank you’ , I was very pleased to do that.
“But I do know this as well, there are a lot of people still suffering. I think where this storm has caused a particular challenge is lots of people have lost water and electricity. And, for at least a period of time, any sort of mobile phone signal or connectivity – that obviously really increases the risk of isolation and the challenges that people face in their everyday life. “I know a lot of work is going on right now, with the ESB and Uisce Eireann making good progress. But, I also think that there needs to be a real discussion around preparedness and resilience after this storm. We are seeing a very…
