The Taoiseach has announced the setting up of an Office of Emergency Planning, led by the Department of Defence and with the involvement of the Defence Forces.
Mr Ahern, who was opening a debate on the situation in the United States, said the office, consulting with other departments and agencies as appropriate, had been asked to prepare plans to meet the new threats from global terrorism.
The Government had also decided the office should have an oversight role relating to planning for peacetime emergencies, so as to make maximum use of resources and to ensure compatibility and co-ordination between plans prepared for peacetime emergencies and for those arising from terrorist threats. "It is important to emphasise that there is no reason to believe that Ireland is a target for international terrorist attacks, but the most important defence against any attack is, of course, detection and prevention by the security forces.
"I have been assured by the Garda Commissioner and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces that all necessary resources are being deployed to this end."
Mr Ahern said he believed that allowing overflights and use of Irish airports by US military aircraft was entirely consistent with the State's responsibilities as a member of the family of nations comprising the international community.
"I also believe that the vast majority of Irish people, and members of this House, support this measure as a concrete indication of where we stand on the issue of international terrorism." But Ireland was not participating in any war and the question of Dβil assent did not therefore arise, he added.
Dealing with the economic implications of the terrorist attack, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, said: "The short-term impact will be to reduce economic activity both globally and in Ireland. It will add to economic uncertainty and volatility for the period ahead." Even before the terrorist attacks, the major world economies, the US, the EU and Japan, had already slowed significantly, he said. Growth in Ireland would be lower than had been previously forecast, both this year and next.
"The resulting lower tax receipts will reduce our room for manoeuvre on the budgetary front. Recent events underline the need for a prudent approach to the public finances, particularly over the coming months in order to ensure that the economy weathers the present global difficulties.
"However, I have no doubt that the Irish economy is in good condition and that, with the right approach, we can pass through the short-term difficulties which the global environment has presented us with. I am confident that in the medium term, as the global economic environment improves, we can return to acceptable levels of economic growth which will benefit all of us."
