Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 2

Written Answers. - Air Raid Precautions.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

76 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the purpose and effect of the powers and duties conferred on him by or under the Air Raid Precautions Acts, 1939 and 1946, and delegated to the Minister of State at his Department on 22 July 1997, by the Air Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1997, number of occasions and dates on which such powers have been exercised by the Minister of State since that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28372/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The powers and duties of the Minister for Defence conferred on him under the Air Raid Precautions Acts, 1939 and 1946, were delegated to the Minister of State at the Department of Defence by virtue of section 2(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 (No. 28 of 1977) and the Air Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1997 (S.I. No. 323 of 1997).

The Minister of State at the Department of Defence has invoked the powers conferred on him under the Air-Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1997, on two occasions in order to grant compensation payments under the terms of the air raid precautions services – compensation for personal injuries – scheme, 1973.