TÁNAISTE ANNOUNCES SETTING UP OF REVIEW GROUP ON PUBLIC SAFETY In the public interest to examine existing approach - Harney

Tánaiste Mary Harney, today (Thursday 28th October, 1999) announced the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group to report and make recommendations on the State’s approach to all aspects of public safety. The Group will be chaired by Dr. Daniel O’Hare, former President of Dublin City University and currently Chairman of the Food Safety Authority. The Group will hold its first meeting on the 15th November, 1999.

"The question of public safety has arisen in various contexts over the years. However, there has never been any serious in-depth study on the issue. The result is confusion among the various Government Departments and Agencies as to their roles and responsibilities in this matter. I now consider that it is in the public interest to examine the adequacy of the existing approach, to identify any deficiencies and to develop a co-ordinated, cohesive and comprehensive response" the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste has invited all Government Departments, relevant Agencies and relevant Local Authority Organisations to participate on the review group. In addition, the Group is expected to invite submissions from any interested parties to help it gain as broad a picture as possible of the situation. The group will report back to the Tánaiste by May, 2000. The terms of reference of the review group are attached.