Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, meets regularly, most recently on 30 June 2011. The next meeting is scheduled for 29 September 2011, which is next week. The task force was established following the 11 September attacks in 2001 and 70 meetings have been held to date. The role of the task force is to support co-ordination of emergency planning across Departments and agencies, to provide a forum for keeping emergency planning high on the agenda of all Departments and to examine any cross-cutting issues. Representation at the task force can be at ministerial level or more usually at senior official level.

While the details of matters discussed at meetings of the task force are confidential, I can confirm it examines current risks and supports co-ordination arrangements for emergency planning across the Government. At the last meeting, the task force received a comprehensive and valuable presentation from the Office of Public Works on flood forecasting and warning systems. There were also presentations from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and from the office of emergency planning. At each meeting I have chaired, there normally has been one or more presentations on issues that could give rise to concerns or give rise to the need for an emergency response. It is a mechanism to ensure such issues are addressed on a cross-departmental basis and there is a possibility for dialogue and consideration of potential gaps that must be addressed. In addition, each meeting of the task force has a standing agenda item, which is referred to as an assessment of the current security threat and which is provided by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. Wearing my hat as both Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence, it is a useful mechanism for cross-departmental briefings on issues that may be a matter of concern.

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