Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD today opened the inaugural All-Island Resilience Conference. This conference is the first in a series of annual Disaster Risk Reduction Conference series hosted by the Office of Emergency Planning and as part of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.
This series of conferences will promote North/South dialogue on strategic emergency management and commission research to inform cross-border cooperation on preparedness and resilience. The theme for the inaugural conference is resilience.
Minister Collins said:
“Through the Shared Island initiative, the Government is working to deepen cross-border dialogue and cooperation, so that we work together North and South, to address common challenges and take up opportunities for the island of Ireland.
“The all-island resilience conference series will build on existing strong relationships and cooperation by the Government and Northern Ireland Executive and Emergency Services North and South, to identify new and emerging issues on emergency planning that can benefit from a cross-border focus”.
Attendees and speakers at the conference came from across the island of Ireland, with a particular focus on those working at strategic level in public administration, semi-State, academic, voluntary, and private sectors.
Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence, said:
“This is the inaugural conference in a series of similar events, which will aim to deepen North/South collaboration in relation to emergency preparedness, management, recovery and resilience by fostering constructive and inclusive dialogue”.
A research funding call was announced at the conference on cross-border aspects to emergency planning and cooperation, specifically on topics of all-island supply chain risks on food chain vulnerability as well as on emergency public safety messaging to border communities.
Sessions were held on specific resilience-focused topics led by sector experts including cross-border crisis cooperation in health, cyber resilience, shared island critical infrastructure, and a practical all-island resilience exercise. There was also a panel discussion on climate adaptation, with experts from meteorological organisations, climate academics, and policy makers from across the island.
ENDS
Note to Editor
This All Island Disaster Risk Reduction Conference series has been commenced in light of the significant crises and emergency situations that have, or could have, an impact on a cross-border basis on the island of Ireland. The growing complexity of risks highlights the value in increasing cross-sectoral and cross-border cooperation for emergency preparedness, management, recovery, and resilience.
Details of how to apply for the announced research grants and how much funding is available can be found on the Office of Emergency Planning Website: https://www.gov.ie/en/news/3c9a6-all-island-resilience-conference/ or by writing to the Office of Emergency Planning using the contact details for this event: conference@drr.gov.ie
The conference is hosted by the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence in association with the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Office of Emergency Planning supports the Minister for Defence who chairs the GTF on Emergency Planning. It has an oversight function on emergency planning and supports the Minister for Defence in preparing his annual report to government on emergency planning. It promotes coordination amongst departments in their emergency planning and encourages best use of resources. Further information is available at emergencyplanning.ie
The Government’s Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future. Further information is available at www.gov.ie/sharedisland