John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The role of my Department during a severe weather event is to ensure that the local authorities are prepared to respond promptly to ameliorate the worst effects regarding those aspects of an emergency for which they have direct responsibility and that they act in co-operation with the other principal response agencies – An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive – and the voluntary agencies and Defence Forces to limit the effects on individuals whose lives may be put at risk or who may be exposed to serious hardship. When effective emergency plans are in place, the management of the emergency response then falls to the local authorities and the other response agencies.

Up to the Christmas 2009 period, local authorities acted to ensure that the national road network remained open for public transport and access for the private sector for the delivery and receipt of goods and services. My Department monitored the emerging position and, in light of a deteriorating trend, I convened the national emergency response co-ordination committee. The committee facilitated a whole-of-Government approach and provided a forum for different Departments and agencies to exchange information, agree priorities and ensure that any matter that required a national response would be dealt with expeditiously. This complemented but did not replace the continued co-ordination and inter-agency arrangements at local level.

Having attended meetings of the national emergency response co-ordination committee, and considering the interaction of the various Departments and statutory agencies, I am satisfied there was an active and sustained response to the severe weather conditions by the local authorities and the other principal response agencies, with the support of the Defence Forces and co-operation of other statutory and voluntary bodies. At all times, the co-ordination and inter-agency arrangements set out in the framework for major emergency management were implemented at local and regional levels.

These co-ordination structures can be used regardless of whether a major emergency is declared. It is a principle of emergency management internationally that the response to emergencies builds from the basic organisational units with capability to respond. In Ireland, the principal response agencies are based locally and, where necessary, regionally.

The national steering group on the framework for major emergency management carried out a review of participation in the response to the severe weather event. It established that the arrangements set out in the framework operated satisfactorily and made some suggestions on operational matters that are under consideration by the group.

The Government task force on emergency planning considered reports from various Departments and the agencies under their aegis. The Departments and agencies will implement the reports' recommendations that fall within their remit. The interdepartmental working group on emergency planning is considering cross-departmental issues that have a legal implication, such as insurance, statutory responsibility of householders and businesses to clear footpaths and the liability of volunteers. The group will meet on 13 July to advance these matters so that action can be taken on them at an early date.

The Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has carried out a review of the management of severe weather events and taken evidence from the main response agencies. I await its report and will give consideration to any recommendations contained therein.

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