Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I come from County Clare, which is a coastal county where we often see the benefits of Civil Defence, although in tragic circumstances. At the time of the flooding of half of Ennis, I was chairperson of the SPC and a member of the crisis management team. Reference was made to emergency planning. It is only when one is faced with an emergency that one realises the level of emergency planning in place in this country and the role of the Civil Defence in terms of dealing with emergencies.

What is the relationship between Civil Defence and the Garda Reserve, which is similar in terms of its backing up a core emergency provision? I would view the Garda Reserve in the same light as Civil Defence in terms of the work it does. Is there much joined-up thinking or co-operation between both organisations?