MET Eireann, formerly known as the Irish Meteorological Service, has been asked by the Government to draw up proposals for its future. The State organisation might consider moving to a more independent" status, the Minister of State for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Emmet Stagg, indicated yesterday.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark World Meteorological Day, which falls today, and the service's new title and "logo", the Minister said he believed the service was at a stage in its development where its organisational status might be examined. Met Eireann also celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
"Should it continue to be an integral part of the Civil Service, or should it move to a more independent status?" asked Mr Stagg in his address. Proposals had been requested from Met Eireann's director, Mr Declan Murphy, the Minister said, and he expected "progress" could he made.
Mr Murphy said the service had expanded considerably, with a new commercial division and specialised forecasts. 1995 was the first year of operation for its new HIRLAM computer model.
However, last year was also remarkable for its very sharp contrasts in weather not only the warmest year on record, but with some of the coldest temperatures. The highest air temperature during 1995 was 30.8 degrees Celsius, recorded in Kilkenny on August 2nd, while the lowest was minus 11 degrees Celsius on December 27th at Clones station, Co Monaghan. This was the lowest air temperature recorded at any station since 1982, he said.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Murphy said it would be premature to draw conclusions about this year's weather pattern. A high occurrence of easterly winds was "not unusual" for March, he said. On the general issue of climate change, Mr Murphy acknowledged that climatologists tended to be very cautious. However, there was more confidence in evidence of global warming, based on average global temperatures, among scientists attached to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), he said. The IPC includes specialists from UN agencies.
Asked about the recent controversy over morning weather forecasts on RTE radio, Mr Murphy reiterated that his agency could offer better service to the public. "RTE staff are highly professional in their field, but with specialised material I believe our staff have more authenticity and credibility," the director said. "We feel it is our job to persuade RTE of this," he added. The issue related to the 7.55 a.m. broadcast which is delivered by RTE journalists under the new Morning Ireland format. Originally, RTE had considered applying this to all weather forecasts.
Met Eireann's logo is based on the triskele or semi spiral motif, depicted on the back of the 8th century Tara Brooch in the National Museum.