I have seen many storms worse than last Monday
The stupid decision to close down Northern Ireland for Storm Ophelia was taken by risk averse civil servants '“ they went to school,went to university and then went to work in the civil service.
They have never taken a risk, borrowed money, worked 100 hours a week, worked at weekends, worked at holiday time, run a business, had sleepless nights worrying about slow trading and no pay if you are sick or have a child, etc.
They are told when to work, when to take holidays, PAYE and NIC payments deducted by someone else and of course I am sure have taken sick days as entitled holidays with full pay.
This storm was a joke – I live in Portrush and have seen many days worse than Monday.
They will of course state the usual that “if it saves one life it was worth it” – tens of millions of pounds?
The same grey men at the stroke of a pen reduce cancer services and close health facilities which result in the deaths of scores of people.
The only difference is that a tree falling a killing someone is obvious whereas people dying quietly in hospices is not.
Finally I will ask: will the civil servants receive full pay and if so will this paid leave be taken off their holiday entitlement?
Time for a COBRA-type committee with civil servants AND real businessmen.
Trevor Cooke,
Portrush