Climate modelling and monitoring highlighted in visit of Minister O’Donovan to the Marine Institute

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO Marine Institute, Michael Gillooly, Director of Oceans, Climate and Information Services (OCIS), and Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform viewing a Argo Float. Picture Andrew Downes, XPOSURE. 14 November 2022: Today, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, visited the Marine Institute's headquarters in Oranmore, Co Galway.

The Minister met with Dr Paul Connolly, CEO Marine Institute, Michael Gillooly, Director of Oceans, Climate and Information Services (OCIS) at the Institute and Dr Glenn Nolan (Manager, Ocean Climate Services), Alan Berry (Manager, Offshore Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Services)  and Dr Tomasz Dabrowski (Team Leader, Ocean Climate Services).

Several Office of Public Works (OPW) officials were also part of the visit today, including Robert Mooney (Head of Planning and Climate Adaptation), Mark Adamson (Flood Risk Assessment and Management) and Vincent Hussey (Flood Risk Assessment and Management).

Minister O’Donovan visited to gain an understanding of the role of the Marine Institute in climate adaptation and particularly how data is collected and used in climate modelling and monitoring, to deal with the impacts of climate change on our coastline.

As part of the visit, the Institute Team gave an overview of how the climate modelling and monitoring that the Marine Institute manages is integrated with other parts of the national and international approach to informing the overall climate strategy.

Dr Connolly said, “We are delighted to welcome Minister O’Donovan and colleagues from the Office of Public Works to the Marine Institute to see our facilities and exchange ideas with colleagues from the OPW which contribute to addressing impacts of climate change on our coastline."

Michael Gillooly added "Forecasting ocean and climate change is one of the Institute’s strategic focus areas. The Marine Institute has a range of observational infrastructures around the Irish marine area continually gathering data on the marine environment. Over the years, we have built up significant time-series information and this data is central to developing digital services including operational modelling which inform climate mitigation and adaptation measures in areas such as sea level rise and flooding.”

The Marine Institute, Oceans, Climate and Information Services Group provide support for national and international marine monitoring, marine mapping, research and development as well as Information Technology infrastructure and digital service development.

Ends.

For more information, please contact:
Sinéad Coyne, Marine Institute e. sinead.coyne@marine.ie  m. +353 (0)879477090
Sheila Byrnes, Marine Institute e. sheila.byrnes@marine.ie m. +353 (0)87 815 5271

Notes to Editor
Marine Institute
The Marine Institute is the state agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. It provides government, public agencies and the maritime industry with a range of scientific, advisory and economic development services that inform policy-making,