Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am aware the Reserve Defence Force was deployed in at least one situation during the weather emergencies because I saw it happening. The Reserve Defence Force is available to be called in when the judgment is made that the Defence Forces are required. It is difficult to be specific or prescriptive about when to call in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are represented on the taskforce. The judgment is made at Defence Forces level in the area in which an incident is being dealt with.

There are either 43 or 46 individual emergency types set out in the framework. In each of those cases the lead Department is specified, as are the support agencies and Departments that would come into play in each case. The most recent emergency was the incidence of volcanic ash in which the Department of Transport was the lead agency. In the case of both the severe ice and snow and the prior flood events the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was the lead agency, although in practice on the ground the local authorities were responsible. Prior to that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was the lead agency in the pork dioxin crisis. Immediately prior to that was the avian flu issue on which the Department of Health and Children was the lead Department. Many examples are set out and in each of them the lead Department is specified.

There is a question about the type of emergency involved, whether it is local, regional or national and whether, when, if and how a state of emergency ought to be declared. The taskforce has worked on some trigger mechanisms that give guidance in that regard. Inevitably, each crisis that is dealt with by the taskforce better informs the response for the next one. Many exercises are carried out jointly by agencies and Departments in anticipation of having to deal with emergencies.

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