A Garda union has called for improvements to an emergency services communications network - to make sure Ireland can cope with major storms and even terror attacks.
The annual conference of sergeants and inspectors has also called for force management and the Office of Public Works to check every Garda station in the state – to see how prepared it is for major disasters.
The call was made in the wake of Storm Éowyn in January, during which the main communications systems called TETRA – used by gardai, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency services - went down for a period of time.
The system relies on electricity to function, but the prolonged power cuts in the north and west of the country after the storm led to some areas of the network temporarily going down.
Now, the conference of the 2,600-strong Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, held this week in Killarney, Co Kerry, has heard calls for action to be taken to make the communications network more robust.
Detective Sergeant Rose McGirl, who is based in the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan division, said: “Storm Éowyn highlighted certain organisational vulnerabilities, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
“That left our membership isolated and unable to respond to calls."
She called for the introduction of a back up system that does not rely on the electricity grid to be established.
And she added: “If there was a more serious terrorist event we would be relying heavily on our communications and if it's that vulnerable that clearly creates other issues.
“That leaves the (Garda) membership very isolated. It also leaves the public vulnerable."
Det Sgt McGirl’s motion calling on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Office of Public Works – which manages the force’s buildings – to assess if they would withstand a major event was passed at the conference.
She said: “We're asking the Commissioner to get the OPW to conduct an assessment of our stations, particularly those that are open 24 hours and that have custody areas, to ensure that they have a backup service, i.e. generators.
“Not all stations have generators and that has a significant impact as well in our capacity to respond during severe weather events.
“We're calling on a specific bespoke plan to be able to address red warning events,” Det Sgt McGirl said.
She also called for increased collaboration between emergency services in planning for red weather events.
“So that, for example, the fire service could provide appropriate transportation for our members to be able to attend calls safely,” she said.
She also said Garda patrol cars are insufficient during extreme weather events, and although there is a garda fleet of 4x4s, they too are not appropriate in extreme weather
But she said increased collaboration with other emergency services, such as the fire service, could ensure that gardaí can respond safely to calls in appropriate vehicles.
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