Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times the inter-departmental working group on emergency planning task force met to date in 2009; the contingencies regarding cover for essential services in the event of public service strikes; if additional planning had been put in place to cover essential services on 24 November 2009; the additional training that has taken place in preparation for threatened further public service strikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43822/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of meetings attended by him in his role as chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning to date in 2009; the number of meetings chaired by him as head of the Government task force on emergency planning in September, October and November 2009; if other members of the Government attended these meetings for the period September to November 2009; the members of the Government that attended these meetings; the frequency of their attendance in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43824/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nod. 246 and 248 together.

The Inter-Departmental Working Group on Emergency Planning (IDWG) has met on two occasions to date in 2009. The role of the Group is to support the work of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. It is chaired by the Office of Emergency Planning and is a forum for developing strategic guidance for all those involved in emergency planning. Business Continuity Planning is an issue that has been raised at the IDWG on a number of occasions during the year and it has been discussed with each department during the annual emergency planning oversight process. Business Continuity Planning is a process that identifies potential threats to an organization and provides for prevention and mitigation measures to minimize disruption to essential services. All government departments have assured the Office of Emergency Planning that they have Business Continuity Plans in place or are at an advanced stage in their development.

Also, in May of this year, the Office of Emergency Planning hosted a workshop on business continuity planning. The workshop was attended by a wide range of departments and agencies and was facilitated by the Dublin City Council's Risk Management Unit. Three meetings of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning have been held in 2009 to date. The meetings were in January, April, and the most recent meeting was held on 30 September. I chaired the January and April meetings of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. The September meeting coincided with a Government meeting. The meeting included comprehensive presentations on the pandemic influenza situation from the Health Service Executive and from an international public health expert. I was briefed on these after the Government meeting.