Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:105 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the current role of the Office of Emergency Planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4669/03]
Other Questions. - Office of Emergency Planning.
In the aftermath of the events of 11 September 2001, in response to a Government decision of Tuesday, 2 October 2001, I set up the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence. The Office of Emergency Planning continues to take the lead role in emergency planning to meet the new threat from international terrorism and from any escalation in international tensions. It co-ordinates the responses by the various agencies involved and continues to exercise an oversight role in relation to peace-time planning to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different planning requirements.
The existing lead roles of Departments in respect of specific emergency planning arrangements continue and a review of the structures under which emergency planning is conducted is ongoing. The objective of the Government is to ensure that all State bodies can react quickly and efficiently to any large scale emergency. As chairman of the task force on emergency planning, my approach is that such responses should be characterised by effective management of all aspects of emergency planning and by a high level of public confidence in all response arrangements.
I am pleased to report to this House that there is a high level of co-operation between my Department and all other Departments and agencies through the task force, the Office of Emergency Planning and the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning.
The Office of Emergency Planning provides key support to the Government task force and co-ordinates the work of the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning to meet the new threats arising from international terrorism.
What resources are available to the Office of Emergency Planning in terms of finance and personnel? Has the Government information to suggest that this country might be vulnerable to terrorist attack? The Minister indicated that he gave a Cabinet briefing on the current situation. What were the main points of that briefing?
Threat assessment is continuously carried out by the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. They have reported to each meeting of the task force that there has been no credible threat to this country, but planning for emergencies to deal with international terrorism must go on because the situation can change and every country is vulnerable to modern terrorism. Resources required by the task force have been made available. The report to Cabinet outlined the emergency plans, the need to be vigilant and how to sort out problems that might arise in Departments.
Has the Minister resolved the dispute involving GPs? As a result of the dispute there was no 24 hour service.
That matter has exercised my mind and that of the Minister of Health and Children. Negotiations between the Department of Health and Children and the IMO are under way because there are circumstances, particularly biological threats, where health boards, community services and the front-line staff dealing with the problem would form a core group. It is important that the problems are resolved but, in fairness to everyone concerned, if anything happened I have no doubt that people would put their shoulders to the wheel.
The matter has not been resolved.
Is it planned to hold exercises to see if the plans will work? Have any such exercises been undertaken? How would information be disseminated to citizens about what they should do in the event of a disaster?
As chairman of the task force on emergency planning, is the Minister satisfied that if there was an attack on Sellafield, we would be able to deal with it? Would it require the evacuation of cities on the east coast?
Will the Minister confirm the degree to which this unit is in contact with other jurisdictions with a view to an early alert and to undertaking whatever preventative measures are necessary at the earliest possible stage?
There is constant contact with other Governments and organisations such as the WHO because this is a global problem and we must exercise our minds collectively. Exercises simulating a nuclear emergency were carried out last year and others have been conducted by the fire service. This is done on a regular basis because only practice will enable us to cope when faced with a real problem.
Deputy Gormley asked about an attack on Sellafield. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland provides a control room for Cabinet Ministers to plot and assess the plume, the direction it is travelling, the radiation threat and where it will land. That is the preparatory work. The public would then be alerted through television, radio and sirens. Deputies will appreciate that some people handle fear better than others. An exaggerated position can upset many people, as has happened in other parts of the world where words were not considered before statements were released. We must be careful how we let people know but also bear in mind that some communications systems are turned off at certain times of the day. We must be able to work on a 24 hour basis.
I would be the last person in the world to say we have done everything but we have made a conscious effort to be as effective as we can in meeting any problem.