Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The legislation under which the Civil Defence currently operates is outdated. I therefore welcome this Bill to enhance the what is currently in place. I see the great work the volunteers in Carlow Civil Defence do at local level. Working with the local authority, they demonstrate the best of us. I cannot commend them enough for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the headlines made it appear that blanket assistance was provided in communities, Civil Defence volunteers were a beacon of hope for many people in every county. It was great to see them receive their medals in the Carlow County Council offices in December. That was a great day for them and their families.

When we were not able to go beyond our gardens during the extremes of lockdown, Civil Defence volunteers took people for medical appointments and essential medical treatment and to testing and vaccination centres. One woman rang me to tell me they brought her much-needed food when she and her elderly partner were isolating. Lifelines like this are valuable in rural Ireland. When a home is flooded in rural Carlow due to an extreme weather event or when people are snowed in, the one person on the scene with the help needed is a Civil Defence volunteer. There are so many people I meet regularly who tell me they would be lost without these volunteers. Carlow is one of the 13 Civil Defence rest centres operational for displaced persons. It cares for 62 people.

I welcome this legislation which will rightly promote and support Civil Defence in co-operation with local authorities. It will also provide policy direction for the activities of the Civil Defence, the provision of training and the procurement of goods and equipment for Civil Defence purposes. These are good people volunteering for the good of others and that should always be supported, promoted and provided for. I wish all the Carlow Civil Defence people well. They are doing a great job.

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