Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Defence the definition of a natural disaster or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2602/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Defence the role he will play and the contribution he intends to make in the context of the operation of the national emergency plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2604/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Defence the procedure whereby the national emergency plan is activated; from whom the order or request comes and the minimum time from initial request to activation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2605/10]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 262 and 263 together.

Emergency planning in this country is developed on the "lead Department" principle. This means that each Department is responsible for planning for and responding to those emergencies that fall within its area of responsibility. In my capacity of Chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I brought a document, Roles and Responsibilities in Emergency Planning, to the Government in December 2008. This document, for the first time, identified the lead Department and the supporting Departments and agencies in over 40 emergency scenarios. It was prepared by the Office of Emergency Planning and was agreed by the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. The Framework for Major Emergency Management is the document that sets out a structure enabling the principal response agencies (the Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and the Local Authorities) to prepare for, and make a co-ordinated response to, major emergencies resulting from events such as fires, transport accidents, hazardous substance incidents and severe weather. The framework states that a major emergency is any event which, with little or no warning, causes or threatens death or injury, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property, the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the principal emergency services in the area in which the event occurs, and requires the activation of specific additional procedures and the mobilisation of additional resources to ensure an effective, coordinated response. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning supports co-ordination of emergency planning across Departments and key agencies. It provides a forum for sharing information and keeping emergency planning high on the agenda of all Government Departments. As the chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I receive regular updates from the national steering group on progress made in the implementation of the framework.