Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to debate the Bill. It is a piece of work identified in the White Paper on Defence to provide more modern aggregated legislation. Sinn Féin supports the Bill and the context in which the Bill is being brought forward. While the Bill does not propose any radical changes regarding the operation of the Civil Defence, we welcome the move to amend what is a convoluted regulatory framework consisting of enactments from as far back as 1939 to one single Bill that clearly sets out the role and responsibilities of the Civil Defence, the local authorities, the Departments and the Minister. We recognise the need for the reform and the value it can provide to the Civil Defence organisation.

I thank the Department's officials who came before the committee for the time they took to answer the questions and to address the issues raised by the committee.

The Civil Defence today is a much-changed organisation compared with when it was first established in 1951. The nature of its undertakings has moved from those of an organisation originally designed to be a necessary civil response to potential hazards based on the international politics of the day to one where its volunteers are deeply embedded in communities throughout the country. It provides supports not only to State agencies such as An Garda Síochána, the HSE and local authorities during local, regional and national emergencies, but to non-emergency events, including valuable community, sporting, charity and local events. I recognise the volunteer ethos of the Civil Defence, which is its hallmark, that is held in great regard. Over the years, Civil Defence volunteers have a long and proud history of assisting at community events and have been central to community support because those volunteers are drawn from that same community. Volunteers benefit, in turn, from the opportunity to develop and practise their skills outside of emergency events, raise their profile, and help to recruit new members. All this is done in conjunction with that primary role of emergency support through the major emergency management programme.

I will raise a number of challenges the Civil Defence face as an organisation that are not limited to any particular geographic area. These are areas of general concern. In 2015, the White Paper on defence stated: "The life-blood of Civil Defence is provided by some 4,000 volunteers who give freely of their time and commitment." The number provided to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence when departmental officials appeared before it was 2,800. I believe the Taoiseach said 2,600.

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