Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 76: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to extend the composition of the emergency planning cell; the frequency with which this group meets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6808/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, was established in October 2001. The membership of the task force includes Ministers, senior officials of Departments, senior officers of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána and officials of other key public authorities that have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. I can provide a list of the people to the Deputy. The work of the task force continues and there have been 36 meetings to date. The next task force meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon and further meetings will be held on a regular basis as required.

The office of emergency planning was established, following a Government decision in October 2001, as a joint civil and military office within my Department. The office supports the work of the task force and continues to work with Departments and other public authorities to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different emergency planning requirements. A key area of activity is oversight of emergency planning to refine and develop the arrangements that exist, to improve them continuously through review and revision and generally to provide the basis for an increased confidence in the emergency planning process.

An interdepartmental working group on emergency planning supports the work of the task force and carries out studies and oversight of emergency planning structures and processes. This working group has met on 33 occasions. Its membership is slightly different from that of the task force and I can supply the list of members to the Deputy. The interdepartmental working group encompasses all Departments with lead roles in the various Government emergency plans and those key public authorities, including the Defence Forces, which plan to support such activities.

The lead responsibility for specific emergency planning functions remains with the relevant Departments, as do the budgetary and resource management requirements. Emergency plans are co-ordinated by the various lead Departments at a national level and through the local authorities, including the fire service, the Health Service Executive and the Garda divisions at local and regional levels. The Departments and key public authorities involved in this process have particular responsibilities under eight strategic areas of Government emergency planning. The objective of the Government is to ensure that all State bodies can react quickly and efficiently to any large-scale emergency.

My officials have met in 2004 with 13 Departments with responsibilities in emergency planning and four State bodies which provide key support functions. These oversight meetings are conducted as part of a continuing programme which informs my confidential annual report on emergency planning to Government. Each of these Departments has assured the office of emergency planning that it is addressing its emergency planning responsibilities and has plans and response arrangements in place to address large-scale emergencies in Ireland.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

As chairman of the task force, my approach continues to be that such responses must be characterised by effective management of all aspects of emergency planning and by a high level of public confidence in all the response arrangements. Review and refinement arrangements will ensure co-ordination of all those responding so that, should we be unfortunate enough to experience a large-scale emergency, we will be in a position to mount a credible response. I will continue to report regularly to Government on a confidential basis on emergency planning. There continues to be excellent co-operation between my Department and all other Departments and public authorities in these vital areas.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since taking office as Minister for Defence and attending these meetings, does the Minister have a concern about the state of preparedness of his or other Departments to deal with a natural disaster or nuclear fallout from Sellafield? Have members of the group expressed concern about our state of preparedness? Although I do not have detailed evidence, I believe we are ill-prepared for a natural disaster, irrespective of how we might talk up the situation. Have any members of the committee made proposals or suggestions of radical changes with a view to setting up a full-time group or organisation that might deal with co-ordinating reaction to any natural disaster? Is there any funding implication as a result?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No. It has been my practice since becoming Minister to call the emergency planning task force together on at least a monthly basis, which will continue. The next meeting is tomorrow afternoon. No member of the task force said anything that would necessarily alarm me or drew my attention to serious deficiencies.

Each plan is a matter for the relevant lead Department. For example, the public health reaction to some sort of a biological threat or the fallout from biological warfare would be a matter for the Department of Health and Children. In the case of nuclear accident, the lead Department would be the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which has its plan to deal with such an incident.

With regard to whether there have been proposals for change, I have made such proposals because some aspects of the functioning of the task force could be changed, although this is not in any way to criticise the good work done. However, we must bring the work of the task force into the public domain and let the public know what is happening. This can be achieved by disseminating information in various ways and publicising the simulated exercises in which many of these bodies engage. For example, last year the Garda Síochána and the Army engaged in a number of simulated exercises, as did the Department of Health and Children. In the United Kingdom, when the army, police or any government department become involved in such exercises, there seems to be no barrier to this information coming into the public domain. While there has been a shyness in this regard in this country, we intend to change this. That is my proposal to the task force and I hope to implement it.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister agree local authorities were ill-equipped to deal with flooding last winter? As a result, does he agree it would be difficult to have confidence in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government plan to deal with nuclear fallout, whatever the plan may be? Is the Minister aware or, more importantly, are local authorities aware what the plan is?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The plan was prepared by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. I am aware of it and can make a copy available to Deputy Timmins, if he wishes. He can evaluate it himself.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would appreciate that.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A definitive plan exists. I wish to explore aspects of it with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As there will be a large representation at tomorrow's meeting, we can refine the plan there. I have no difficulty making the plan available for the Deputy's perusal.