Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, we have provided significant funding for naval vessels as part of the operation of the Defence Forces. The Office of Emergency Planning, which is in the Department of Defence, co-ordinates the response to an emergency and it promotes best practice in emergency planning. The Government task force on emergency planning is comprised of representatives of all Departments and relevant agencies and it meets regularly to discuss emergency planning and management. The framework for major emergency management lists various types of emergencies, some of which I read out to Deputy Howlin.

The Office of Emergency Planning has prepared a draft document entitled, Strategic Emergency Management - National Structures and Framework. That is due to come to Government very shortly and we will publish it before the summer so people can reflect on the very issue that Deputies Micheál Martin and Howlin rightly raise. When an emergency occurs that requires a national level response, the current guidelines for co-ordinating a national level emergency crisis response, which are publicly available on the Office of Emergency Planning website, set out the steps that are taken to manage it. In a national emergency, the lead Department convenes the national emergency co-ordination committee. The paper that is to be presented will provide a forum to discuss these central questions.

Deputies will be aware of the vigilance of the Garda and the intelligence units in monitoring a small number of individuals who do not have this country's interests at heart. That is a very precise and confidential matter.

Deputy Martin raised the question of the Air Corps. There are cadets in training and a cadet recruitment campaign is underway. Four personnel will complete air traffic control training between May and September this year and the Air Corps is currently inducting a further air traffic control course. NCO vacancies in the Air Corps will be filled from the recently-launched NCO promotion competition. Deputy Martin is aware that when somebody qualifies through the Air Corps, they are on contract for 12 years before they have the opportunity to leave, so it is not a question of training people and they then leave for private enterprise as soon as they are trained. There is a period of contract which they give back to the State in respect of the training they receive.

I would be happy to associate with the party leaders in regard to the central question raised by Deputy Howlin.

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