Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Minister for Defence the date on which the last meeting of the task force on emergency planning was held; the agenda for that meeting; when same is planned to hold a further meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25000/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for his response. The most recent meeting pertained to flood risk and advanced warning, and a presentation was given by the Office of Public Works. The previous meeting pertained to an update concerning the severe weather experienced last Christmas. It is clear there was a lack of leadership with regard to the severe weather experienced last Christmas. It took the outgoing Government a considerable length of time to initiate emergency planning and to decide who would be responsible for it. Has consideration being given to allowing the Defence Forces to lead that agency no matter what the crisis, whether it be flooding or some other severe weather issue? The Defence Forces have the skill set to carry out the requisite co-ordination. Moreover, has the lack of co-ordination last December between local authorities, the HSE and the Defence Forces been resolved? Are clear protocols in place to ensure the Army is not obliged to wait almost for a gold-plated invitation before it can provide the civil authorities with the assistance they so urgently need?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A number of recommendations were made to the task force arising from the weather events that took place last year and early this year and these are being taken on board. They are cross-departmental recommendations in the sense that they do not specifically apply to the Defence Forces. They require different Departments and local authorities to approach matters in a particular way. I do not believe it would be appropriate for the Department of Defence to take over matters because some of the skill sets in these areas are within that Department while others reside within other Departments. The emergency planning approach in Ireland to date has developed on the basis of what is known as the lead Department principle. This means that each Department is responsible for planning for and responding to those emergencies which will fall within its remit. In this context, there are certain emergencies, for example, in which the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department. It would be my job as chairman of the taskforce to ensure that matters are duly co-ordinated and other assistance required from other Departments is provided.

The lead Department would be involved in making decisions and the taskforce, in a sense, is a backup to it. The lead Minister on environmental issues is the Minister, Deputy Hogan, not me. The taskforce would, if there was a major emergency derived from weather or another difficulty, meet and ensure the necessary co-operation took place.

I do not want to comment on difficulties that arose during the lifetime of the previous Government. I am doing what I can as chairman of the taskforce to ensure that we have the maximum co-ordination and co-operation. I think, in fairness, it also has to be acknowledged that occasionally weather events can occur that are a great deal more severe than may have originally been anticipated.

It is always easy to blame Governments for not predicting the weather completely correctly or predicting the consequences of a weather event. It is important that the recommendations made are implemented. I would emphasise that in the context of other weather events such as the fires we experienced during the summer months. Again, we were assured they were dealt with speedily. There was co-operation between the relevant local authorities and the Defence Forces.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for his response. Can he assure the House the next severe emergency will not be dependent on whether it snows in County Meath or Kilkenny and there will be some type of independent arbiter? The situation which arose last Christmas in my constituency should not occur again. Families were marooned for three weeks and the emergency planning strategy was not put in place because the Minister concerned happened to be on a sun holiday in the Mediterranean and did not believe it was an issue.

Can the Minister assure the House that such a situation will not arise again? Can he also assure the House that emergency vehicles and 4x4 ambulances will be made available in communities that do not have a local hospital, such as my constituency? Isolated rural communities are hugely dependent on the ambulance service. Emergency planning did not live up to its responsibilities last winter.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can only say to the Deputy that I believe it is important that we properly plan and that we have in place the systems necessary to respond when emergencies arise, but we also have to remember that on occasion emergencies occur that may not have been anticipated and it is necessary to move personnel or vehicles to the location where an event occurs. There may be some timeframe involved or not. They should never be any timeframe which requires two or three weeks to elapse before there is an adequate response to an emergency.