Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, a task force on emergency planning was established in this country. Is there any cross-over? What is the difference between the National Security Committee and that national task force? Is the Taoiseach aware that in 2003 the Emergency Planning Society, a European organisation, recommended to the Government that there be a single body underpinned by legislation to oversee national emergency planning and security? It is rather confusing and there seem so many groups and bodies that everyone and no one is responsible. For this type of activity, particularly in view of its seriousness and the attacks carried out recently in various countries, it would be better if there were a single body responsible located in the Department of the Taoiseach.

As far as I can see — I may be wrong — no additional funding has been allocated to any of those bodies in the past few years. That indicates that perhaps we are not taking this threat as seriously as we should.

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