Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the meeting of the Government's interdepartmental working group on emergency planning regarding the threat of bird flu to Ireland that he recently chaired; the number of meetings that the group has had on these issues; the level of estimated threat to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Defence when the task force on emergency planning last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11841/06]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the deliberations of the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning and the task force on emergency planning regarding the threat of avian flu. [11804/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times the Government task force on emergency planning met in 2005; the number of meetings held to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11826/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 55, 111 and 121 together.

The Government task force on emergency planning has worked since it was set up in 2001 to co-ordinate emergency planning and response arrangements across those Departments that lead and support the State's response in an emergency. The task force met on eight occasions in 2005 and on two occasions to date this year. The task force met most recently on Thursday, 9 March 2006.

The interdepartmental working group on emergency planning supports the work of the task force. The working group is a forum for developing strategic guidance for all those involved in emergency planning and for sharing information on emergency planning. The interdepartmental working group met on seven occasions in 2005 and on two occasions to date this year, most recently on Wednesday, 1 March 2006.

The most recent meetings of the task force and the interdepartmental working group were specifically convened to provide the various Department representatives with updated briefings from the Department of Agriculture and Food with regard to avian flu and from the Department of Health and Children with regard to a possible human influenza pandemic.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is represented on both the task force and the interdepartmental working group and has provided regular briefings on avian flu developments at these meetings over the past number of months. The situation with regard to avian flu will continue to be monitored and reviewed by that Department in close co-operation with the Department of Health and Children.

My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, has introduced a range of measures aimed at minimising the risk of the virus being introduced to Ireland. The Minister and her Department are keeping their contingency arrangements under constant review and refining them as necessary. Her Department's approach is being informed by the most up to date scientific and veterinary advice available and the Minister appointed an expert advisory group to advise her as to the adequacy of the control measures in place.

The task force and interdepartmental working group meetings this month were also briefed by the Department of Health and Children representatives in relation to the preparations and plans which are being put in place to deal with any possible human influenza pandemic. My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, who has lead responsibility in this area, is addressing the various issues that may arise if such a situation occurs.

Avian flu or H5N1 is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a very small number of human cases of H5N1 infection documented, in situations where there has been very close contact with infected birds. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

A detailed plan for response to an influenza pandemic was prepared in 2004. This plan is currently being refined to reflect the most up to date advice of the influenza pandemic expert group and the World Health Organisation.

An inter-departmental standing committee chaired by the Department of Health and Children also met on the 27 February. This committee will support the Department of Health and Children in planning for and responding to a public health emergency focusing initially on pandemic flu planning. Both the task force and the inter-departmental working group will continue to be briefed and updated on these matters and related emergency planning issues on a regular and ongoing basis.