Mayo TD urges immediate Dáil recall to address aftermath of devastating storm
Deputy Paul Lawless Pic: Michael McLaughlin
Aontú Deputy Paul Lawless has called for an immediate recall of the Dáil following Storm Eowyn.
Deputy Lawless, who was elected to the Dáil for the first time in December, said the idea that the Dáil is on a break at a time when thousands of people are without power and water is ‘incredible.’
“It is mind boggling to think that the Dáil has only sat 3 times in the past 77 days. This would be bad enough in ‘normal’ circumstances, but we have just experienced one of the worst storms to ever hit our country and the toll on communities is invaluable”.
“Look at the realities; Women who are pregnant, new parents with tiny babies, elderly people, people who have illnesses, vulnerable people, many living in very isolated rural areas are really suffering. This is winter and they are freezing, they can’t even make a cup of tea to warm themselves. They are trying to get kids out to school, get themselves to work , it is a nightmare for so many people”.
He said that if the east coast was as badly affected as the west coast and other areas currently are, the Dáil would not be on a break.
“Contrast the difference between the scenes we saw last week in Leinster House which was a display of orchestrated histrionics with the biggest opposition parties wasting energy shouting and playing to the gallery”.
“They were arguing about speaking time when we have no speaking time as it stands as the Dáil is not sitting to address the biggest infrastructure wipe out ever”
“We have a very Eastern /Urban centric Government who are blissfully unaware of the very real but very different challenges that people in rural counties like Mayo face in times of dangerous and inclement weather events”.
Deputy Lawless praised the efforts of emergency crews for the work they have done in the past few days.
“Mayo County Council, The ESB and Uisce Éireann crews have worked tirelessly, and they are to be commended for their trojan efforts in very challenging conditions. The community has once again come into its own and people are showing the warmth, kindness and openness for which the people of the West are renowned but it is not fair that the burden of care should rest with them”.
“A real signal of intent would be to recall the Dáil immediately, get to work and get stuck into proving real solutions for the people of Mayo and all the other counties whose people are so discommoded by the aftermath of the storm”.
