Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2019
81. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding legal advice provided to his Department concerning State assurances for Civil Defence; when his Department received this legal advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21002/19]
View answerThe Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the regulator for emergency medical services in Ireland and their role is to protect the public. The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council require organisations who wish to be operational, to apply to them for an annual licence to operate.
Organisations wishing to hold a licence to operate must sign the “statutory declaration” which consists of 25 statements. Persons signing the “statutory declaration” confirm the information provided on the form is true and by virtue of the Statutory Declaration Act, 1938.
When the Civil Defence’s current licence was up for renewal in November 2018, my officials reviewed the current statutory declaration. That review identified issues that required my officials to seek legal advice. The concerns related to some assurances and details which the Department were required to give as part of the licensing process. The necessary details required to complete the licence application form were not within the control or remit of the Department of Defence as responsibility for operations rests with local authorities as set out in the 2015 Government White Paper on Defence.
Based on this review, the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council extended Civil Defence’s current licence to 30 July 2019. This was to allow my Department officials engage with local authorities. This engagement is ongoing.
