Dáil Éireann - Volume 519 - 17 May, 2000

Written Answers - Overseas Missions.

94. Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has for members of the Civil Defence to be allowed partake in over[713] seas missions in suitable capacities and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13705/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Mr. S. Brennan): My Department will examine and support where possible any request from individual members of Civil Defence who wish to serve overseas with a recognised agency. A number of Civil Defence personnel have served overseas on an individual basis in Rwanda, in Iran, in Ethiopia and in Belarus.

The Department is currently examining the implications of having a more structured Civil Defence response available for service overseas in consultation with such organisations as the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO).

The Department is pleased to have jointly developed a disaster relief nursing course for specialists who are working in disaster prone areas. The Civil Defence branch provided a specialist training module for this course.