Vol. 519 No. 3
83 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if, in regard to the commitment in the Review of An Action Programme for the Millennium, he will indicate the proposals he has for development of the Civil Defence with a view to providing services at community level and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/00]
I draw the Deputy's attention to the recently published White Paper on Defence which is the first such paper to be produced in this country. One of its objectives was to set out the basis for the future development of Civil Defence policy and the follow-up to the "Towards 2000" programme on Civil Defence launched in 1992. As I said in my message in the White Paper, the organisation provides a unique opportunity for people to give voluntary service within their own communities. It will continue to be developed as a top-class provider of second line emergency services through the local authority structure.
The Government has decided that the Civil Defence mission should continue to be to facilitate, through the local authorities, Civil Defence responses for emergency relief and support to ensure the operation of vital services and the maintenance of public life and to provide other community supports as directed by the Government.
The necessary management and development processes to improve performance and increase effectiveness are currently being put in place. I propose to bring forward a new Civil Defence Bill which will be published in the autumn. This Bill will update and improve existing legislation in relation to Civil Defence and steer the organisation as it faces the challenges of this new millennium.
