A STORM is brewing in the Meteorological service over who agreed to let RTE staff read the morning weather forecast. Yesterday Morning Ireland listeners heard a shortened version of the traditional weather forecast that, incidentally, failed to inform them that a deep depression has set in among staff at the Met headquarters in Glasnevin, Dublin.
The staff union, Impact, has now called on the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to "immediately instruct both RTE and the Met Service to resume this vital public service". Mr Pat Clarke, Impact branch secretary, said that his members received no warning of the decision to ban them from the airwaves.
Meteorologists receive no extra payment for preparing and reading the morning weather forecast. They were "saddened and puzzled that we can no longer be accommodated", he said. The issue will be raised with the Association of Broadcast Meteorologists, whose current chairman is Mr Gerard Fleming, well known for his television weather broadcasts.
His appearances are not under threat, yet. A spokeswoman for RTE said last night that a radio review group had decided that in future all weather forecasts should be read by RTE editorial staff.