Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Question Nos. 9 and 214 together.

There are two committees dealing with emergency planning that come under the aegis of my Department, namely the Government taskforce on emergency planning and the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning.

The Government taskforce on emergency planning, which was established in 2001, is comprised of Ministers and-or senior officials from all Departments and key public bodies that have a role in emergency planning and response. The taskforce supports co-ordination of emergency planning across Departments and agencies. It provides a forum for keeping emergency planning high on the agenda of all Departments and it examines cross-cutting issues that impact across Government.

The taskforce meets on a regular basis. The most recent meeting was held on Thursday last, 14 October, which was its 67th meeting. The interdepartmental working group was also established in 2001. It supports the work of the Government taskforce and carries out specific tasks under the direction of the taskforce. It has met on 57 occasions. The most recent meeting took place on 20 September 2010.

The taskforce is a forum for sharing information among the key stakeholders and much of the expert advice is provided from within the taskforce. External experts are invited to make presentations to the taskforce from time to time on a range of emergency planning issues. The taskforce has recently sought expert advice for drawing up a template which will inform Departments and agencies of the key benchmarks against which emergency responses may be reviewed. The work is currently being carried out by the Dublin City University business school and will be completed shortly.

Representation on the taskforce can be at ministerial level or, more usually, at senior official level while representation at interdepartmental working group is at senior or middle management level. The names of the officials currently serving on the Government taskforce on emergency planning and the interdepartmental working group are listed in the tabular statement which will be circulated. There is no additional cost to the State arising from either of these committees as the officials attend and participate as part of their normal duties. The office of emergency planning is a joint civil and military office within the Department, which supports the Government taskforce and the interdepartmental working group. The office also manages the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre, which was activated during last winter's severe weather events and during the volcanic ash emergency that occurred in April to May of this year. All costs associated with the office of emergency planning and with the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre are met from the Defence Vote.

Membership of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning:

(Principal and Deputy Representative)

Mr. Tony Killeen T.D.,

Minister for Defence (Chair)

Office of Emergency Planning

Fred Bradley

Col Declan Hayes

Jerry Kelliher

Department of Defence

Brian Spain

Michael O'Boyle

Defence Forces

Major General Ralph James

Col S. O'Giollain

Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Martin Heraghty

Joe Shortall

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Aidan Ryan

Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs

Mary Hurley

Department of Education and Skills

Martin Hanevy

Brian Brogan

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

Brian Whitney

John Newham

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Des Dowling

Sean Hogan

Met Éireann

Gerald Fleming

Aidan Kelly

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

Dr. Ann McGarry

Dr. Tom Ryan

Department of Finance

Patricia Coleman

Derek Moran

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Gerard Moran

Finbar O'Leary

Office of Public Works

Tony Smyth

Les Lennox

Department of Foreign Affairs

Barrie Robinson

Tim Mawe

Department of Health and Children

Dr. Tony Holohan

Luke Mulligan

The Health Service Executive

Gavin Maguire

Pat O'Riordan

Department of Justice and Law Reform

Ken O'Leary

Martin Power

An Garda Síochána

Assistant Commissioner Noreen O'Sullivan

Chief Supt. Pat Hogan

Department of Social Protection

Brian O'Raghallaigh

Paul Carroll

Department of An Taoiseach & GIS

Philip Hamell

Ray Henry

Government Information Service & Press Office

Eoghan O'Neachtain

Kate O'Toole

Department of Tourism Culture and Sport

Paul Bates

Susan McGrath

Department of Transport

Dermot McCarthy

Eddie Burke

Membership of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Emergency Planning:

(Principal and Deputy Representative)

Office of Emergency Planning

Mr. Fred Bradley (Chair)

Col. Declan Hayes

Comdt Larry Rooney

Ann Corrigan

Department of Defence

Michael O'Boyle

Defence Forces

Lt. Col M. Smyth

Comdt. Patrick Power

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Joe Shortall

John Byrne

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Aidan Ryan

Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs

Mary Hurley

Department of Education and Skills

Brian Brogan

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

John Newham

Richard Barry

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Sean Hogan

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

Dr. Ciara McMahon

Dr. Catherine Organo

Department of Finance

Derek Moran

Dermot Keane

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Finbar O' Leary

Office of Public Works

Les Lennox

Department of Foreign Affairs

Ray Walker

Department of Health and Children

Luke Mulligan

Peter Hanrahan

The Health Service Executive

Gavin Maguire

Pat O'Riordan

Department of Justice and Law Reform

Dermot Woods

Nellie Dennehy

An Garda Síochána

Det Supt. Liam King

Det. Insp. Brian O'Reilly

Department of Social Protection

Paul Carroll

Vincent Hegarty

Department of An Taoiseach

Ray Henry

Mary Murphy

Government Information Service & Press Office

Kate O'Toole

Jacky Bryan

Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport

Paul Bates

Susan McGrath

Department of Transport

Eddie Burke

John Conroy

The Irish Coastguard

Chris Reynolds

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