Fire chiefs will today highlight concerns that in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack there is no cohesion between emergency services in the State.
At the annual conference of the Chief Fire Officers' Association which begins today, the firefighters will call for the implementation of recommendations made in a 2002 report on fire safety and for the setting up of a national fire authority.
Managing risk in a changing environment is the theme of the conference in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, which will include discussion on the threat of terrorist attacks and the challenges it presents.
A spokeswoman for the association said the Government commissioned the Farrell Grant Sparks report which was published in 2002, and the recommendations, including the need for a national fire authority, had not yet been adopted.
"Fire officers are concerned that in the event of a disaster there is no cohesion between emergency services," she said.
The report highlighted the fragmented nature of authority for the service across a wide number of statutory agencies, the Department of the Environment and Local Government and local authorities.
It maintained the structure no longer provided the strong national leadership required.
It recommended a new national authority for fire and emergency planning services and new structures at local authority level which would mirror arrangements at national level.
The conference will discuss new challenges facing the fire and emergency services.
The spokeswoman said: "Since 9/11, firefighters throughout the world have been thrust into the front line in the efforts to mitigate new threats.
"It is the role of the chief fire officer to ensure that they are adequately prepared and have the right equipment and training to perform their job safely when they are called upon," the spokeswoman added.
Speakers will include Colin Lammey, chief fire officer with the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, who will present his paper on Preparing for Terrorism - The New Threats.
Tasos Pappas, fire service officer with the Hellenic Association of Fire Service Officers, will speak about the Greek fire service since 9/11 and in the run-up to the Athens Olympics.
Other speakers at the association's annual conference will include representatives from fire services in New Zealand and Britain.
The conference continues tomorrow.