Will the Minister state who is responsible for training the people in the Civil Defence so far as nuclear fall out is concerned? Is that done through the Army? What is the brief of the Civil Defence and their inter-relationships with the Army and with the Garda Síochána in the event of nuclear fallout? Who carries the authority and what is the liaison between the various groupings?

At this stage the training is done by the Civil Defence themselves. Of course there is an Army input in the entire scheme via the observer corps. The Deputy may be aware that two years ago I directed the up-grading of the observer corps from the previous point where to all intents and purposes the corps was non-operational. It has been expanded significantly, involving FCA personnel throughout the country and in turn, they are in liaison with the Civil Defence authorities. There is a comprehensive scheme of liaison between the Civil Defence, the military authorities and the Garda Síochána.