Written Answers. - Air Corps Service.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
210
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Defence
the reason he failed to furnish details of arrangements with the RAF, as requested in Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 18 October 2001; if, in view of the fact that the Air Corps does not have any interceptor aircraft, he will now outline the arrangements entered into with the RAF in this regard; if these arrangements were made before 11 September 2001; and if any changes in such arrangements were made thereafter.
[26378/01]
As I indicated to the House on 18 October 2001, the terrible events in the United States on 11 September 2001, have highlighted new security risks for the entire world. While the threat of terrorist attacks in this jurisdiction is the subject of continual analysis and assessment by both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces there is no reason to believe that Ireland is a direct target. Notwithstanding that, it is important that all prudent precautions are taken. In this regard mutual assistance and co-operation is maintained between the Irish security services and those of other countries to ensure effective flows of relevant intelligence.
On the evening of the attacks on the US, members of the Cabinet were briefed by the security committee on the security precautions which had been put in place arising from those attacks. The security committee includes the Secretaries General to the Government, the Depart ment of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Defence, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Garda Commissioner.
A high level contact group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Government Departments immediately concerned, was set up to monitor developments. The emergency services, under their aegis, were asked to ensure their arrangements were fully up to date.
Since then the security committee has met on a number of occasions and the high level contact group has met regularly. At the Government meeting on 18 September 2001, arising from a report of the high level contact group, Ministers were asked to ensure that all necessary measures were being taken to monitor and respond to the evolving international situation.
A review of the structures under which emergency planning is conducted is taking place. The attacks on the US have clearly changed the context for such emergency planning. Since the 1980s, the emphasis in planning was on peacetime emergencies, whereas now we are faced with new threats arising from international terrorism. In those circumstances the Government decided on 2 October 2001, to set up an office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence.
The new office is taking the lead role in emergency planning to meet the new threat from international terrorism and from any escalation in international tensions, including co-ordination of the responses by the various agencies involved; and, exercising an oversight role in relation to peacetime planning in order to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different planning requirements.
The existing lead role of Departments in respect of specific emergency planning arrangements will of course continue. At the request of the Taoiseach, I am chairing an emergency planning task force established to oversee emergency planning in light of the current international climate. The task force held its first meeting on 18 October 2001, which the Taoiseach attended, along with the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise. The task force comprises senior representatives from all of the key Departments and agencies charged with responsibility for emergency planning.
The task force has been meeting regularly to review the various emergency planning and response issues. A further meeting was held this morning, the next meeting is scheduled for 8 November 2001, and further meetings are scheduled for next week. The establishment of this emergency planning task force and the setting up of an office of emergency planning at the Department of Defence and the ongoing work being done by Departments and agencies clearly shows the serious commitment of the Government to providing a co-ordinated and effective response to situations such as those that have arisen recently.
It will be appreciated that, in the interests of security, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific measures taken or being undertaken to guard against or to counter such terrorist attacks. As I have mentioned in the House already on 18 October 2001, the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC), which is chaired by the Department of Public Enterprise and which includes,inter alia, civil and military representatives from my Department, has convened eight special meetings to date since the events in the US. At those meetings, the NCASC has been reviewing existing aviation security procedures for Irish aviation in the light of the current security situation and is examining specific security proposals. As regards the handling of a hijacked aircraft, procedures have been agreed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for the exchange of relevant information between member states.
As I also indicated to the House on 18 October 2001, in light of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States I am having the question of acquiring training aircraft with interceptor capability for the Air Corps examined.
