Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role he envisages the Irish fire service playing in the proposed European international crisis management force as announced by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner earlier in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30364/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As yet, there is no formal proposal for the establishment of a European international crisis management force. However I am aware of newspaper reports in January 2005 that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner had suggested the possibility of establishing a crisis management corps to deal with disasters such as the Asian tsunami. I also understand that there are proposals for the establishment of civilian response teams, CRTs, under the existing crisis management system at EU level, these are being dealt by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in so far as Ireland is concerned.

With regard to civil protection, Ireland participates in the EU civil protection mechanism which provides for interventions inside and outside the European Union following a request for assistance — personnel, equipment and-or supplies — from a country where the domestic emergency services are unable to cope with a particular event. However, participation when a request for assistance is received is voluntary. It is a matter for the national authorities in the first instance and the organisation-body or individual involved to offer assistance at that time. The European Commission is considering means of strengthening the civil protection mechanism with a view to reinforcing the capacity of the EU to respond to incidents such as major natural disasters.