The State response to the severe weather conditions last winter was considered inadequate by the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has been hearing evidence from all those involved. Unprecedented rainfall in November and the coldest January since 1963 caused severe problems for homeowners and businesses in different parts of the country. Many at the time thought their plight was being ignored and many feel that they have had no support in the intervening months.

Among the recommendations made was that the National Steering Group for Major Emergency Management should be headed by the Minister for the Environment or the Secretary General of the Department; road grit should be sourced nationally rather than by individual local authorities; more detailed emergency planning is required; and the establishment of flood warning systems.

An independent inquiry is recommended to establish what went wrong in Cork which experienced very serious flooding when the ESB released vast volumes of water from Inniscarra Dam. Most focus seems to be on the alleged lack of communication between the ESB and Cork City Council but the question that needs answering is why the ESB didn't release water in a controlled fashion days earlier when the forecast was for torrential rain.

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/mediazone/pressreleases/title-1895-en.html

Tough times ahead - ESRI

In its latest publication "Recovery Scenarios for Ireland: An Update" the Economic and Social Research Institute forecasts lean times for the country over the next few years.  The longer-term outlook is, however, brighter.

Due to uncertainty in the economic outlook the report looks at a High Growth scenario and a Low Growth scenario, although growth in the latter would still be significant. Under the High Growth scenario, output per head will not be restored to its 2007 level until 2015.

The Government must adhere to its plan to cut €7.5bn out of public spending over the period 2011-14. That is assuming the High Growth scenario. Less vigorous growth would require additional cuts or increased taxes. The report commends the Government for its resolute action to date as the economy could be up to 10% worse off today without the cuts and savings achieved in 2009/10.

On employment it is forecast that between 160,000 and 200,000 will emigrate by 2015 but the unemployment rate could again fall below 5%. It is, however, imperative that retraining programmes are available to those, particularly in the construction sector, who are unlikely to find jobs relating to their current skills.

http://www.esri.ie/publications/latest_publications/view/index.xml?id=3073

Cabinet considering 2011 Budget

The Cabinet is today meeting at Farmleigh with the 2011 Budget the main item on the agenda. It is expected that Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan will be indicating to his colleagues just how much they will be expected to contribute to the €3bn in savings required.

Magill Summer School makes news

Various speakers at the Magill Summer School in Glenties, Co. Donegal generatesufficient controversy or express such good sense that their views become national news.

Lucinda Creighton, Fine Gael TD for Dublin South East, yesterday hit the headlines by exposing the fact that all is not sweetness and light in the party. She was particularly critical of the leadership for inviting a property developer to take part in a fund-raising golf tournament.

Today Don Thornhill urged an end to "productivity payments for public servants". He described restrictive practices as a form of blackmail.

Earlier in the week former Taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald suggested that tax evaders should not be allowed to stand for election to the Dáil. His former colleague Michael Lowry was someone who, he thought, should not be a TD.

Today's Papers

The Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent both look to reports this morning for their lead stories. The Irish Independent focuses on the ESRI report with "Force banks to lend ‘or face decade of misery'", while the Irish Examiner's headline, "State's response to floods ‘poor and confused'" relates to a report from the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment.

The Irish Times turns to politics for its headline, with "Gilmore rules out coalition deal with Fianna Fáil".

The headline in the Irish News, "Asda ‘Sash man' killed two Catholic brothers", relates to the reinstatement of William Hunter, an employee of Asda in Belfast who was suspended after remarks involving "The Sash" song.

The Weather in Galway

Today has begun in the way it will probably continue, with grey skies and rain. Temperature 16C.

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