Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the matter referred to by Deputy Gilmore and others concerning the national emergency co-ordination effort and the relevant legislation. I do not agree with the Taoiseach because there was not the degree of co-ordination at national level that there should be. Huge initiatives were taken by individual constituent bodies of their own accord. They were willing and able to help, but much was left undone simply because nobody was in charge at national level. There was no delegation of authority to local authorities. Various bodies took the risk of going into the arena and offered to help out. I ask the Taoiseach to review the construction of this body to try to come to grips with some methodology whereby a decision can be made centrally to activate all services nationally to go to the rescue of those in need at any given time.

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