Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2010
290 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role he will play in the future in the implementation of a co-ordinated national emergency or disaster plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2909/10]
View answerAs part of an ongoing focus on major emergency preparedness and response, the Government, in 2006, published a Framework for Major Emergency Management. The purpose of the Framework is to put in place arrangements that will enable the three principal response agencies, namely, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and the local authorities to coordinate their efforts in the event of a major emergency. The Government put in place a Major Emergency Development Programme to implement these new arrangements which led to the three principal response agencies adopting new major emergency plans in September, 2008. My Department chairs a National Steering Group to oversee and drive this Programme and to maintain the Framework into the future. When relevant my Department will chair a National Emergency Response Co-ordination Committee, as occurred during the recent flooding and severe weather events.
The role of my Department is to ensure that the local authorities are prepared to respond promptly to ameliorate the worst effects in relation to those aspects of an emergency for which they have direct responsibility and that they act in co-operation with the other Principal Response Agencies — An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive — the voluntary agencies and the Defence Forces to limit the effects on individuals whose lives may be put at risk or may be exposed to serious hardship. When effective emergency plans are in place, the management of the emergency response then falls to the local authorities and the other Response Agencies.
