Written Answers. - Emergency Response.
Richard Bruton
Question:
114
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Defence
if he will report on the emergency response to suspect anthrax contamination; the agency which has the central co-ordination role for pulling together the different services and for ensuring that members of the public who are suspected of contamination are supported and kept fully informed of investigations and tests which are being carried out in this effort; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25760/01]
At the request of the Taoiseach, I am chairing the emergency planning task force to oversee emergency planning in light of the current international climate.
The task force held its first meeting on Thursday, 18 October 2001, at which the Taoiseach attended, along with the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Deputy Jacob.
The task force comprises senior representatives from all the key Departments and agencies charged with responsibility for emergency planning, including those with responsibility for the provision of a response to incidents suspected of involving anthrax. The Garda Síochána, Defence Forces and emergency services roles in response to such incidents are as set out in the agreed protocol for dealing with suspected anthrax in Ireland, as published by the Department of Health and Children.
The task force has been meeting regularly every two days to review the various emergency planning and response issues and met again on Monday, 22 October and yesterday, Wednesday, 24 October and will meet again tomorrow, Friday, 26 October. Further meetings are scheduled for next week.
In relation specifically to the incidents involving suspected anthrax my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, on Wednesday, 17 October 2001, issued a protocol for dealing with such incidents. This protocol was prepared by an expert committee under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Hall, Director, Virus Reference Laboratory. This committee was established to develop a contingency plan which would be activated in the unlikely event of a biological incident. While work on the detailed plan is progressing a specific protocol to deal with suspected anthrax incidents was prepared first in light of the recent events in the United States.
The protocol deals with the procedures to be adopted in the event of a suspected anthrax incident including the treatment of persons involved, the management of incidents and post exposure guidelines.
The protocol is a work in progress and is being revised on an ongoing basis as a result of feedback to the committee. The most recent version of the protocol and guidelines are available on the Department of Health and Children website at www.doh.ie.
The revised protocol was circulated to key services including the Fire Service, the Garda, the Defence Forces and the director of public health in each health board.
In relation to treatment in the event of exposure to anthrax the Irish Medicines Board has confirmed that sufficient quantities of the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin have been secured and that this would be used to treat patients in the event of exposure.
Persons suspected of being exposed are being decontaminated. Contaminated areas are being sealed off pending analysis of the sample. Results are communicated to the Public Health Laboratory who notify the relevant director of public health who in turn notify the Garda. Arrangements have been put in place to ensure that persons who may have been in contact with suspected substances are notified of the results of the tests.
The establishment of this emergency planning task force and the setting up of an office of emer gency planning at the Department of Defence on 2 October and the ongoing work being done by Departments and agencies clearly shows the serious commitment of the Government to providing a co-ordinated and effective response to situations such as those that have arisen recently.
I commend the work being carried out by the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the fire and ambulance services and others in responding to the recent incidents. These have placed considerable demands on the resources of our front line emergency services.
I must add that I deplore the waste of resources on hoax calls to the emergency services which also causes concern and anxiety among the public and I wish to re-emphasis that the full rigours of the law will be applied to anyone convicted of offences relating to hoax calls.
