Air passengers suffered major delays today after snow and ice closed Dubin airport for hours yesterday.
The main runway was opened last night but delays continued today for thousands of passengers hoping to depart or land at Dublin.
The airport was closed to incoming flights until 1pm, while only about half the normal number of flights will depart this afternoon. A spokeswoman for the Dublin Airport Authority said the airport was returning to normal this evening, although some flights were still experiencing delays.
The move to limit flights was said to be part of the DAA's effort to relieve congestion at the airport but Ryanair accused the DAA of incompetence over the delays.
Aer Lingus said that the situation at Dublin Airport was difficult, with normal operations being hindered by heavy ice deposits on airside areas and passenger walkways. The airline called on the Dublin Airport Authority to urgently address the situation, saying it had been forced to cancel flights today to Krakow and New York.
The DAA rejected what it said was Ryanair's "latest predictable statement", accusing the airline of inaccuracies, and claiming staff had done "everything possible" to clear snow and ice from runways, taxiways and aircraft parking stands.
The DAA blamed an accumulation of frozen slush and snow close to the boarding gates for the delays, along with adverse weather at some UK airports.
Yesterday, the airport closed for seven hours and had to cancel around 200 flights in and out of the airport due to heavy snow.
The cold snap continued to grip the country this morning with motorists and travellers warned of icy roads and pavements as road temperatures remained well below zero on national routes.
Some areas have been hit worse than others, with AA Roadwatch warning that particular care is needed on the M1 via Dunleer, the N2 through Monaghan, the N3 via Kells, the N4 at Enfield, the N7 via Roscrea and the N61 at Elphin.
Motorists are being urged to reduce speed dramatically and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
In Wicklow, gardaí are warning that extreme care is needed on all routes throughout the county, with black ice in some areas. Drivers should avoid high ground especially the Wicklow and Sally Gap and also through Roundwood and Glencree.
The N11 northbound approaching Arklow is extremely hazardous, while care is also advised on the Old N11 and Church Hill. Motorists are being warned that black ice is widespread around Blessington, and roads in Lacken and the Green Hill Road in Wicklow Town are impassable.
Drivers in Wexford are being warned of similar conditions, with icy roads in the Gorey area and conditions particularly hazardous on the N11/Gorey bypass. Minor roads are thawing out around Enniscorthy and New Ross, but conditions remain dangerous around Wexford town.
In Kildare and Meath, minor roads are also hazardous, while the N3 remains icy around Kells and towards Cavan.
In Westmeath, care is being advised on secondary roads around Mullingar and Kinnegad, and in Tipperary it is extremely icy around Nenagh and on the N7/Nenagh Bypass. The back roads around Roscrea, Templemore, Cashel, Tipperary town and Cahir are still hazardous.
In Waterford, gardaí are urging motorists to take care on all routes in the city and county due to icy conditions.
In the west of the country, roads in Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo are icy, and Galway city drivers are being warned of slippery conditions, particularly on the N6.
In Donegal, conditions are poor around Letterkenny and Lifford.
Meanwhile, commuter rail services from Gorey and intercity services between Rosslare and Dublin are still suspended between Bray and Gorey due to a landslip south of Arklow. Bus transfers are in place.
Met Éireann is warning of further severely frosty conditions this evening, with temperatures falling to between 0 and - 5 degrees Celcius inland, and around 2 degrees in costal areas. Wintry showers are forecast in parts of the north early tomorrow, but frost and ice is expected to clear gradually tomorrow morning.
