Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans for the establishment of a civilian response group to act as a rapid reaction force in natural and humanitarian disasters abroad; when he will bring such proposals to Cabinet; the type of functions this group will be involved in; the way in which such a group will be funded; the identity of the ultimate authority in charge of such a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18497/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of examining the opportunities for better co-ordination and operational response to future disasters and humanitarian emergencies abroad, an interdepartmental audit of the assets and capacities available to Ireland is currently underway.

This audit is intended to identify gaps and shortfalls in overall international capabilities at EU and UN level where Ireland might practically make a contribution. The audit will also examine how Ireland might best fill gaps that have been identified and the costs associated with the provision of trained and available assets. Once this audit is completed, which I expect will be in the coming months, we will be in a clearer position to decide how Ireland can best contribute to overall international efforts to assist in large-scale rapid onset emergency situations.

Since the Asian tsunami disaster, the issue of responding effectively to natural and humanitarian disasters abroad has been a particular focus of European Union deliberations. The main challenge for the EU is to ensure that it is able to respond rapidly and flexibly. Whether this is through improving mechanisms that already exist to respond to these type of events — such as the mechanism for civil protection or European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP, civilian capabilities — or through creating a new rapid response structure is an issue that is currently being discussed by member states.

Ireland has consistently supported the development of the EU's civilian capabilities to respond to crisis situations, both in respect of natural disasters, such as the Asian tsunami, and in the context of conflict and post-conflict scenarios. We have committed civilian resources through both the community mechanism for civil protection and, more broadly, through the civilian capabilities commitment process under the ESDP. These resources range from police capabilities to rule of law experts to civil protection personnel.