Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While we appear to have learned a little following each disaster, we do not appear to have learned the full lesson, namely, the degree and speed with which the responding forces must offer assistance. I would have thought that the series of measures to be taken immediately by the international community in such disasters would now be a prerequisite. For example, it was known for 48 hours that the typhoon was approaching, as was the case in other similar disasters. In my view, the first priority is organisation. We discussed policy earlier. With all the best intentions in the world, policy is of little benefit without the ability to activate that policy rapidly. We realise this. The country's affected must first make the call for and facilitate international aid. In such situations the heavy lifting equipment needed for the reconstruction of bridges across rivers, fuel supply and so on are necessities. They must be the first priorities in a disaster situation. To what extent has the international community come to grips with this?

To my mind, it has not just yet, and there is a necessity to do so. With the best will in the world, this country has given a very good example to everybody else by making a donation at an early stage. Members have already pointed out that other countries with much greater resources than are available here have not been as fast in addressing the matter. It is a matter for them to consider. The co-ordination of the effort and rapidity of the response are significant elements in the case of a natural or other disaster.