Civil Defence Bill 2023

Public bill · Government · Presented

Modernises Ireland’s civil defence law by replacing older, scattered rules with one up-to-date framework. It sets out the Defence Minister’s role, strengthens local authorities’ duties, formalises civil defence officers and volunteers, creates an electronic register of volunteers with privacy safeguards, and requires local civil defence plans, training, equipment and codes of practice. It also keeps funding arrangements in place, preserves existing units and volunteer arrangements during the changeover, and allows compensation payments under the old air-raid scheme to continue.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the functions of the Minister for Defence relating to civil defence; to provide for the responsibilities of local authorities relating to civil defence; to make provision relating to civil defence officers and civil defence volunteers; to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a register to be known as the Register of Civil Defence Volunteers; to provide for civil defence plans; to make provision for the funding of civil defence; to provide for codes of practice; for those and other purposes to provide for the repeal of certain enactments and necessary transitional arrangements; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 30 August 2024