Plea for urgent support of Mayo farmers left out in the cold after storm - TD
Mayo TD Paul Lawless has strongly criticised the government’s slow and inadequate response to Storm Éowyn, highlighting that some people in Mayo still remain without power nearly three weeks after the storm.
“While the government can’t control the weather, it can control the distance between trees and the ESB network. Dublin simply didn’t take us seriously,” said Lawless.
“In the immediate aftermath, the Taoiseach went from Cork to Newry for sporting events, while Simon Harris was busy tweeting photos of his shoes. Meanwhile, Mayo was in crisis.”
Lawless praised ESB workers on the ground who worked tirelessly—some even coming out of retirement to help restore essential services—but called out ESB’s CEO for suggesting that customers should bear the cost of repairs.
“Irish citizens already pay some of the highest electricity charges in Europe, while the ESB CEO is on a salary of nearly €400,000—more than the French President and British Prime Minister combined. That’s unacceptable,” he stated.
Lawless also condemned the government for failing to support small businesses.
“Minister Calleary admitted it in the Dáil: the relief scheme 'does not cover commercial, agricultural or business losses'.
"Read that again. It doesn’t cover businesses—the very businesses that keep our towns alive. The very businesses that employ our neighbours, that sponsor our local teams, that pay the taxes that fund this very government.
"They are, once again, left out in the cold. It is unacceptable.
“I have said it before, and I will say it again—SMEs are the most discriminated-against sector in our society. No bailouts, no golden parachutes, just the expectation to ‘get on with it.’
"We are forcing small business owners down the insurance route, despite the fact that premiums were already sky-high before the storm.
"How many SMEs can afford another hike in insurance costs just to cover damage the government refuses to acknowledge? Some businesses won’t recover—not because of the storm itself, but because of the insurance hikes that will follow.”
Deputy Lawless is calling for:
1. Immediate and Automatic reimbursement for families forced to pay out-of-pocket for emergency accommodation—no hoops, no demand for insurance claims, no delays.
2. Direct financial relief for SMEs to rebuild.
3. A storm-response protocol that prioritises action over admin.
4. Tree culling along ESB/NBI networks to prevent future damage.
5. A new emergency contract system so farmers and contractors can assist in emergency situations. "Procurement and regulations should be done in advance so contracts and works can be triggered immediately. I was shocked that some of the biggest and best contractors were never asked to assist during this storm."
6. Generators at all water treatment plants to ensure supply security should be mandatory.
7. Support for households to access backup generators and fuel storage.
“Storms will come and go, but leadership—or the lack of it—will be remembered. Right now, the people of Mayo and the west feel forgotten. This government needs to step up.”
“Families must be supported. Businesses must be protected and preparation must begin today for the next storm," he added.