Following the advice issued by the National Emergency Coordination Group on the status red weather warning issued by Met Éireann on 28 February 2018, an email was issued to staff in my Department from the Head of Corporate Affairs to advise them that they should not attend work on Thursday 29 February or Friday 1 March 2018. This advice also applied to staff in the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of my Department.
A small number of staff attended work on 29 February and 1 March 2018, including those involved in the work of the National Emergency Coordination Group, and staff providing emergency cover in Corporate Affairs Division, Cabinet Secretariat, the Government Press Office, the Strategic Communications Unit and the Taoiseach's Private Office.
No deductions of pay or annual leave were made as a result of the days lost during storm Emma.