Vol. 573 No. 2
15 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has decided not to proceed with the plans for a new authority with overall responsibility for public safety as recommended by the interdepartmental committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24487/03]
The report of a review group on public safety entitled, A Review of Public Safety in Ireland, was published in 2000. This group, which was established in November 1999, comprised representatives from Departments, various agencies and bodies. One of the recommendations of the review group was that an office of public safety regulation should be considered, which would not be responsible for public safety issues but would have a form of overseeing role of all the agencies and bodies involved. The review group also proposed that the functioning, appropriateness and continuing need for such an office should be reviewed within a five year period.
The group was not in full agreement on its proposal due to issues relating to duplication of existing services and additional cost. Some Department representatives expressed reservations about the need for such an office and the extra burden on State finances. The current situation is that the regulation of public safety is being dealt with by a number of Departments and public bodies and they are encouraged to co-operate as closely as possible. In many cases there are memoranda of understanding and regular ongoing liaison meetings between the various authorities.
The review group's recommendation was inconclusive, which questions the need for an office of public safety regulation. A clear-cut case has not been made nor a properly defined role set out for the establishment of such an office. It is not clear that the creation of another State agency, whose function is merely to oversee public safety matters, is the right way forward.
