Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
113 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence the level of the threat posed to Ireland by international terrorists as communicated to him by Garda and Army intelligence services; his views on whether Ireland is prepared to cope with an emergency on the scale of that created by the Madrid bombings in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1503/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most important defence against any terrorist attack is early detection and prevention by the security forces. The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. The potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism are continuously monitored by them in co-operation with the Defence Forces. The advice available to me at this time is that, while the Garda authorities recognise that the terrorist threat to Europe may currently be high, in relation to Ireland it is low.
Notwithstanding this, it is important that all prudent precautions are taken and that matters are kept under continuous review. The awareness that the situation could change rapidly and with little warning has ensured that vigilance is maintained. The objective has been, in so far as possible, to confine and control threats before they translate into destructive actions.
Government Departments with lead and support roles for emergency planning, management and response continue to work to achieve the most effective outcome possible from State assets in terms of organisation, equipment and personnel.
The vision continues to be that State bodies must react quickly and effectively to any large-scale emergency. Response arrangements must continue to be characterised by effective management of all aspects of emergency planning.
The Government task force and the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning are essential to providing the necessary co-ordination across Departments and bodies under their aegis to ensure that the system acts in a co-ordinated way.
The terrorist attacks in Madrid in March 2004 further stimulated those involved in emergency planning to ensure that readiness was maintained. Any large-scale emergency presents enormous challenges to the State in which it occurs and the issues that arise take many years to resolve. Such incidents can be etched into the national consciousness, perhaps for generations.
The experience of the Spanish authorities in the immediate response and in providing supports during the recovery phase, which will continue for some considerable time into the future, have been generously made available to others.
The European Union has been an important vehicle in passing on the experiences and lessons learned by the Spanish authorities to key personnel in other European countries and we, in Ireland, have benefited considerably from this process.
Those with emergency responsibilities in Ireland know that they must prepare for many different scenarios, which may affect their own particular areas and functions. By studying the experiences of others valuable lessons can be learned that may have an application in our national, regional or local situations.
The response of the Spanish authorities continues to be studied and any further lessons learnt will be considered and incorporated into the work of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair.
