Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
270. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the response capacity of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Forces, to provide aid-to-civil-power responses during climate emergencies such as storms or floods; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17220/26]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department are the lead Department for preparing and responding to severe weather events. The Office of Emergency Planning, in my Department, assists and provides support to the lead government departments during emergency events. As Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I am advised that the lessons identified from the Review of Storm Éowyn and other severe weather events are being incorporated into future planning and resilience to minimise the impacts of climate related emergencies on our communities.
The Defence Forces are not the first responders in either the preparedness nor in the recovery phase of such events. Their role, when called upon, is to assist civilian authorities in dealing with the various challenges which can present. The Defence Forces continues to stand ready to assist in emergency scenarios as part of the whole-of-Government, whole-of-society response at both the national and local level. Based on their performance in recent events, I am satisfied that the Defence Forces are readily prepared to assist when called upon.
