Ireland is as "ready as it can be" to deal with any emergency that may occur, including a nuclear accident or terrorist attack, according to Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea.
Mr O'Dea made the comment as he confirmed in the Dáil that a national emergency co-ordination centre will be ready to open in the next few weeks at Agriculture House in Kildare Street beside Leinster House.
"Technologically, the centre will be advanced," the Minister said. He confirmed to Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy, who raised the issue, that the centre "is not a bunker. There are no physical protection measures in place such as one might see in an underground bunker."
Agriculture House was chosen because it was "close to the centre of Government" and would be "secure, easily accessible", he said.
A major public information campaign will be launched to "explain in ordinary layman's language how emergency planning works in the country".
Mr O'Dea said that a company had been contracted, following a tender process, to conduct the campaign and it was "ready to roll". A few people will be located at the centre on a permanent basis. "In the event of an emergency we will immediately contact all those involved in the emergency taskforce and get them into position as quickly as possible in order that they may respond," Mr O'Dea said.
He agreed with Mr Mulcahy's suggestion that all Oireachtas members and county managers should be invited to "tour the centre when it is fully operational. Opposition members may laugh, but frankly it would be good for public confidence if members of the Oireachtas were to visit the centre."
