Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed aspects of emergency planning or counter-terrorism activities with his EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26916/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am conscious of the importance of addressing all aspects of the terrorist threat. My European Union colleagues and I regularly review developments in the area of emergency planning.

The EU plan of action on combating terrorism addresses all aspects of the European Union's action against terrorism, including emergency planning. The plan of action was adopted in December 2001 in the follow up to the terrorist attacks against the United States. It has been revised several times since, notably under the Irish Presidency in June 2004 in response to the Madrid bombings. One of the principal objectives of the plan of action is to enhance the capability of the European Union and of member states to deal with the consequences of terrorist attacks. The plan addresses in detail issues such as risk analysis, identification of threats, preparedness and consequence management, research and development and international co-operation.

Much of the detailed implementation of the plan of action in relation to emergency planning falls under the responsibility of other ministers, but both the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the European Council comprehensively review progress towards implementation of the plan of action every six months. I have taken part in two such reviews, conducted in December 2004 and June 2005.

Work under way in the EU on the issue of responding effectively to natural and humanitarian disasters is also relevant as the needs will often be similar. This issue has been a particular focus of European Union deliberations since last December's Asian tsunami disaster. The main challenge for the EU is to ensure that it is able to respond rapidly and flexibly. Whether this should be done through improving mechanisms that already exist, 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 a matter under discussion among 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 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.