DISASTER RESPONSE:THE DEPARTMENT of the Environment is the Government department with sole responsibility for identifying emergency weather conditions, reacting to the events and driving Government's response, according to a Government document.
The Irish Times has learned of a document outlining precisely which department is responsible for responding to a range of man-made and natural disasters.
Entitled “Roles and Responsibilities for Emergency Planning”, it identifies 30 disaster scenarios and points to the Government Minister responsible for mounting a central response to national emergencies.
The document contains a list of potential emergencies from tsunami and earthquake warnings to the collapse of financial systems, explosives finds at airports, flooding and other severe weather scenarios.
In relation to extreme weather – such as the snow and icy conditions experienced of late – the document identifies the Department of the Environment as the lead government department with sole responsibility for identifying the emergency, reacting to it and driving a central government response.
No lead agency such as local authorities, the HSE or an Garda Síochána are identified as having what is described as a “lead response role”. They are, however, identified as having a “principal support role”.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen last Thursday announced that the National Emergency Response Committee had being convened and would report to the Government on a daily basis until the severe weather abated.
He said it would co-ordinate the national response to problems caused to transport, schools, access, supplies and health by the widespread icy conditions, and would be overseen by Minister for the Environment John Gormley and his Department.
Mr Cowen and Mr Gormley emphasised that the primary responsibility for de-icing roads would still lie with county and city councils.
Meanwhile, the document identifies the Department of Transport as the department with sole responsibility for dealing with “emergency incidents at airports” or “aviation security/terrorist incidents (actual or attempted hijacking or other terrorist activity at an Irish airport or in Irish airspace)”.
In this regard, it would appear Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey ought to have been the Minister leading the response to the placing of high explosives by the Slovak authorities on board a passenger aircraft which entered Irish airspace recently.
The Minister identified as the member of government responsible for being the central communications point of contact in “all major emergencies requiring Cabinet or Cabinet committee and central media/communications response” is, again, the Minister for Transport.