Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence when the task force on emergency planning and the interdepartmental group on emergency planning last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12321/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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. The work of the task force continues and there have been 37 meetings to date. The most recent meeting was on 2 March 2005. I have convened the next task force meeting for 26 April 2005 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 in order to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different planning requirements. A key area of activity is oversight of emergency planning; to refine and develop the arrangements that exist, to continuously improve them through review and revision: and to generally 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 34 occasions, most recently on 7 April 2005 and it will continue to meet on a regular basis as required.

The interdepartmental working group on emergency planning 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. This working group, under the guidance of the Government task force, continues to meet and is chaired by the office of emergency planning. It is a forum for developing strategic guidance to all those involved in emergency planning and for sharing information on emergency planning.