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Gnáthamharc

Emergency Planning.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004

Thursday, 25 March 2004

Ceisteanna (1, 2)

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

1 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the membership of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning; the number of meetings held since its inception; the meetings that have been held since the Madrid bombings; and if new initiatives are being adopted to secure the safety of citizens and our territorial integrity. [9342/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the work of the office of emergency planning; if the office intends to take new initiatives in view of the Madrid bombing atrocity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (9 píosaí cainte)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Before answering, I would like to extend my condolences to all those who died and were injured in the terrible events which occurred in Madrid on 11 March. I am sure the House will join with me in condemning unreservedly this horrific attack on innocent people going about their ordinary business.

The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, was established in October 2001. The membership of the task force includes senior officials of Departments, senior officers of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána, and key public authorities which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The work of the task force continues and there have been 30 meetings to date. The most recent meeting was held on 18 February 2004 and I will chair the next meeting later this afternoon.

The office of emergency planning maintains direct contact with all Departments responsible for emergency planning through an established first point of contact mechanism, set up and maintained by the office since 2001. Following the Madrid bombings, the office of emergency planning availed of these established contacts to seek relevant information on the State's preparedness in response to such incidents and I await reports at the task force meeting later today. Departments have been regularly asked to look at the issues concerning their plans and to report to the task force.

Planning for major accidents and emergencies has been ongoing for many years at local level and co-ordinated on a regional basis, in accordance with the Government major emergency planning framework. As chairperson of the task force, I requested all authorities to review their emergency plans and revise them as appropriate. This has led to a thorough examination and evaluation of emergency plans to ensure that arrangements are current and effective.

The focus of this work continues to be on taking the necessary precautions to, at best, prevent or, at least, minimise the risks from terrorist activities, ensuring that the protection available to the people is maximised, putting mechanisms in place to support the response agencies and providing co-ordination for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

A critical issue in an emergency is issuing adequate and timely warnings and providing the necessary information to the public on threatened or developing emergencies. Television and radio broadcasting will be the key means of contact with the public in such circumstances but all other means of communication will also be used. The office of emergency planning was established following a Government decision in October 2001. The office continues to work with Departments and other public authorities to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different planning requirements. A key area of activity is oversight of emergency planning, to refine and develop the arrangements that exist, continuously to improve them through review and revision, and generally to provide the basis for increased confidence in the emergency planning process.

The objective of the Government is to ensure that all State bodies can react quickly and efficiently to any large-scale emergency. I continue to take the approach 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 the response arrangements. I am pleased to report that there continues to be excellent co-operation between my Department and all other Departments and agencies through these mechanisms.

I continue to report regularly in confidence to Government on emergency planning, most recently last October. That report noted that the year had been one of consolidation of emergency planning development. Steps are being taken to build on the work done since 2001, to formalise the arrangements in place and lay the groundwork for the future. Those involved, principally the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, continue to monitor potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism.

The Garda authorities assess the terrorist threat to Europe from Islamic extremists as high but that is reduced in the Irish context. Awareness that the situation could change rapidly, and with little warning, has ensured that vigilance is maintained. International linkages have also been important as a means of sharing expertise and resources. The European Union continues to develop a programme to improve co-operation within the Union and candidate countries, to prevent and limit any consequences of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear terrorist threats. The EU civil protection mechanism and other international mechanisms provide Ireland with some warning and alert systems and mechanisms for helping in emergencies. The Taoiseach, in his role as President of the European Council, recently issued a statement on proposals to counter terrorism in the aftermath of the 11 March terrorist attacks in Madrid. These proposals will inform the discussions taking place at the European Council meeting being held today.

I would like to be associated with the Minister's remarks of condolence to all those who suffered and to the families of those who lost their lives in the Madrid atrocity. Who knows where such an incident will happen next? Does the Minister agree that our approach to security and defence is fragmented and is there any way co-ordination could be improved? For example, two committees deal with this, the National Security Committee that deals with assessment or review of threats and the task force the Minister mentioned. In the wake of the Madrid bombing does the Minister consider it a good idea to put the office of emergency planning on a statutory footing, as the Taoiseach suggested in a recent Dáil statement?

In a report delivered to Government last October, the emergency planning service criticised the piecemeal approach to planning for emergency here. It recommended that a single body with responsibility for security be established and report to the highest office in Government. This has happened in several countries since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. Has the Minister considered this report? Does he accept its findings that weaknesses in Ireland's emergency planning were highlighted by the way in which the SARS threat was handled? The report also states that the Government reaction to a possible nuclear alert highlighted the inadequacy of our preparations. Following the mass circulation of iodine tablets in 2002 will the Minister describe what other preparations are in place to counter the threat posed by a terrorist attack on a nuclear facility, for example in the United Kingdom. Does he feel that we are prepared to deal with such an eventuality on our own?

The National Security Committee reports to the Taoiseach and Government on high level security issues but is not involved in the operational security activities whereas the task force is directly involved in the co-ordination of the type of operation and emergency plans which must be undertaken. There was a recommendation that this could be co-ordinated by a single statutory organisation. This would be very difficult in practice. For instance, the Department of Health and Children dealt with the anthrax scare, with regard to protocols and the testing in the United Kingdom and the protective suits purchased for the Army and the gardaí investigating these matters. Almost all those events were hoaxes.

With regard to aircraft one must consider security of the cabin of the airport which is the responsibility of the relevant agencies. The Department of Agriculture and Food handled the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government deals with flooding and similar problems and, together with the Radiological Institute, it also responds to nuclear incidents. When one pieces together the various types of threat, one sees the need to involve specialists appropriate to each. For example, to deal with the threat of smallpox, the Department of Health and Children must purchase medicines, set up protocols, decide on isolation hospitals, train staff, and decide on the course to take. I will not rule any suggestions in or out but will listen to everything and do the best I can. The best approach is to allow the agencies and the Departments with distinct responsibilities, provided they are well managed and resourced and have the right information, personnel and so on, to deal with the matters.

I will be brief and will accept a short reply. We are all deeply shocked by the recent Madrid bombings which took 200 lives and we extend our deepest sympathy to the Spanish people on their terrible loss.

The Minister said that the task force has met. Without wishing to create alarm, the Madrid bombings show that no area of Europe is not at risk. In light of those bombings, has the task force undertaken any risk assessment of the situation here? Is there co-operation between the Garda and the Army and is there any plan to deal with the risk of terrorist attacks?

Bearing in mind that the Garda is primarily responsible for security issues, it is supported by the Defence Forces whenever the need arises or a call is made on them and there is considerable co-operation between them. The co-operation is fundamental and works excellently without difficulty.

The first item on the agenda of each meeting of the task force is risk assessment. Usually, the Deputy Commissioner who has carried out the assessment reports to the task force. Each time we have asked for a report we have been informed that the risk is low. However, we have no scope for complacency and must be constantly vigilant. The Islamic threat to parts of Europe is estimated to be high, but relatively low to Ireland. However, as a result of experience and of what we have seen, we take nothing for granted.

I would be delighted to be able to inform Deputies Sherlock, McGinley and Ó Snodaigh, and the House, that we can counter every circumstance. In the past attacks of this kind were, by and large, predicated on the basis that the people pressing the button would escape with their lives, whereas now we are dealing with suicide bombers. This pushes the limits of security endeavour to extremes with which it never before had to cope.

There is no point in saying we have absolute security or certainty. However, we are trying to ensure intelligence is shared, terrorist cells are broken up and the people involved are caught before heading to their destination to carry out these crimes. This is a big task for the international community and we support it in whatever way we can. As far as risk assessment here is concerned, the advice from the Garda is that the risk is low but that we should not be complacent.

From the point of view of intelligence and defence, our approach to security appears too prompt. We know there is a lot happening on the intelligence front as there have been meetings in Brussels and elsewhere between Ministers but often defence does not get as much emphasis as it should. I know the Ministers had a meeting during the week with Mr. Javier Solana. Was defence co-operation between us and our friends in Europe discussed at that meeting?

Deputy McGinley is invariably well informed. However, the events in Kosovo required the presence of Mr. Solana and therefore the meeting did not take place. The meeting has been rescheduled but I have not got the final arrangement.

Will mutual defence be discussed?

We will meet as soon as possible. All these issues will be on the agenda for the ministerial Council meeting which will take place on 5 and 6 April.

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