Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:11 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the annual report to Government on emergency planning issues. [26058/02]
Written Answers. - Emergency Planning.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:25 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the annual report of the task force on emergency planning that he presented to the Government in November 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26091/02]
I propose to take Question Nos. 11 and 25 together.
On 15 October 2002, 1 presented a confidential annual report to Government on emergency planning dealing with issues that had arisen during the previous year. The events of 11 September 2001 fundamentally affected the emergency planning agenda in Ireland and in many other countries. Such reports must be classified as confidential because they deal with matters which have arisen from the work carried out in the aftermath.
The content and the context in which information is presented and debated can be misused by unscrupulous people and can, in itself, become a weapon in the wrong hands.
The report noted the developments in emergency planning that have taken place since October 2001 across all relevant Departments and agencies. It noted a high level of confidence in the emergency services such as the Garda Síochana, fire and health services and the Defence Forces. A press release covering the ground, in general terms, has been issued by my Department.
Following the tragic events in the US in September 2001, the Government put the necessary steps in place at ministerial and official level to examine the robustness of emergency planning in Ireland. It became apparent at an early stage that there was a necessity to put structures in place to support existing services and to improve coordination across the various existing national emergency plans.
A Government task force on emergency planning was set up to harness the work of those Departments and agencies with key roles in the process. In my capacity as chair of the task force, I ensured that the new emergency planning challenges were addressed with a view to developing policies to respond to possible threats and to increase coordination.
A new office, the office of emergency planning, was set up within my Department to take the lead role in emergency planning to meet potential terrorist threats, to promote coordination across all Departments and agencies involved and to oversee the emergency planning process. The office of emergency planning provides an effective focus on the changing nature of emergency planning and associated issues and has built strong partnerships to improve the effectiveness of emergency planning and response.
Government decided that this new office would not take over the lead emergency planning responsibility of Departments and agencies. It was recognised that they were doing good work but that the office of emergency planning would work with them to look afresh and to re-evaluate their emergency planning arrangements in the light of the new threat.
An interdepartmental working group on emergency planning was set up encompassing all the Departments with lead roles in the various national plans. The members of this group have worked together to build long-term partnerships which continue to develop the strengths and capabilities of emergency planners. They implemented the initiatives of the task force throughout the various emergency systems and addressed the practical matters which could reduce the potential impacts of emergencies in this State. The result has been a new focus on emergency planning. As chair of the task force, I am satisfied with the level of cooperation and mutual assistance across all Departments and agencies. The work of the Government task force on emergency planning, the interdepartmental working group and the office of emergency planning will continue to improve emergency planning mechanisms and response arrangements. The long-term goal for Government is to provide effective coordinated planning and response across the whole threat spectrum.