Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
472. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of members of the Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) who are currently certified in the area of CBRNe; when such certification is due to expire; and the expiration dates of the CBRN suits/masks on issue to them. [71004/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the training of Garda personnel throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that at present no member of the Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) has a current CBRNe certification. Furthermore, no member of the Bureau is currently in possession of CBRNe suits or masks.
This situation is not however reflective of the overall preparedness of An Garda Síochána to deal with CBRN-related events.
Arrangements in respect of major emergencies are set out in the Framework for Major Emergency Management (MEM) which is intended to enable the Principal Response Agencies to prepare for and make a coordinated response to such emergencies.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that Chemical, Biological, Radioactive or Nuclear (CBRN) attacks or events have a multi-agency response under the MEM Framework and training and exercises are conducted between agencies at a strategic and operational level for such incidents.
An Garda Síochána are the lead agency in a malign CBRN attack and conduct training with first responders, armed units and intervention teams for such an attack. An Garda Síochána has a large cohort of trained CBRN responders.
