Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Communications play a vital part of the response to emergencies that arise, especially communications between the different agencies in the State. This issue is kept under review by the task force, and I will ensure it is continually reviewed. One can always improve communications, but further developments in these areas are constrained by our economic circumstances.

During the course of the two recent visits, both the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána showed how well they interact and communicate with each other on matters of high security. I have the greatest confidence in their ability to do so in the case of any emergency that may arise and which would require a joint response from both. The ambulance services and the Garda Síochána are operating on the Tetra system and there is a fully co-ordinated communications network operating between them.

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