Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 7

Written Answers. - Humanitarian Liaison Group.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

64 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, which has been made regarding the operation of the Humanitarian Liaison Group and the Rapid Response Register, as outlined in the White Paper on Foreign Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20019/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Humanitarian Liaison Group has been established and met on a number of occasions. The membership of the group is comprises of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Health, Defence and other Departments as necessary, together with the Agency for Personal Services Overseas, APSO.

The principal focus of the group's work to date has been on streamlining the arrangements for the release of public servants to take up assignments related to emergency assistance programmes in developing countries. It is envisaged that the group will operate as a clearing house to facilitate the release of public servants to take up such assignments if and when the need arises in the context of a major international emergency.

Preparations for the establishment of the Rapid Response Register, RRR, are at an advanced stage. It is envisaged that the core membership of the register will be comprised of individuals who have undertaken assignments in developing countries and who have received specialised training in the management of emergency assistance programmes. The Agency for Personal Service Overseas, APSO, has undertaken a number of pilot training programmes and is consulting the nonGovernmental organisations, NGOs, regarding the arrangements for future training activities. The detailed arrangements in respect of the operation of the register will be completed in the light of the outcome of the consultations and the pilot training programmes.