Is the Minister aware of the ever growing public awareness of the seriousness of a nuclear holocaust, whether by way of fall-out or otherwise, and has he or the Department any proposals to promote Civil Defence by way of co-ordination with the various other voluntary organisations, many of which have units in the various towns and parishes throughout the country?

(Dún Laoghaire): There is tremendous co-operation between Civil Defence and the other voluntary organisations particularly in rural Ireland but in urban areas also. Such bodies as the Order of Malta, the Irish Red Cross, St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland and so on co-operate extensively with Civil Defence in this area. In addition, the local authority network is used extensively in this regard.

Perhaps the Minister would expand on that.

(Dún Laoghaire): If the necessity to expand any of the areas of co-operation become apparent, that would be done so far as Civil Defence are concerned. There is no danger that they would regard themselves as an individual organisation totally separate from other voluntary organisations whose aims are similar.