Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister's clarification of the question about the issue of being involved in aid to civil power in certain circumstances.

Regarding aid to civil power, will the Minister confirm if the group on emergency planning, for example, which will be critical next Tuesday, has met this year and, if so, the number of times it met? Also, what role does the Minister envisage the Army having next Tuesday in the event of being needed for fire services, even in this House, by local authorities, in prisons and so forth? Are contingency plans in place that will avail of the Defence Forces in certain circumstances next Tuesday?

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