Wexford Civil Defence
The voluntary Air Raid protection organisation had been in operation during the second world war but was disbanded once hostilities ended. During the ensuing Cold War period the Government determined that a Civil Defence organisation fully trained to cope with a nuclear situation was a necessity.
As a result, Civil Defence was set up in 1950, to be part of the national defence structure as the necessary civil response to potential hazards which might arise in a war situation. The organisation was designed to undertake non–combatant activities and measures to afford defence against or mitigate the effects on persons and property of an attack on the state or of hazards otherwise arising during a time of war or emergency such as from radioactive fallout, biological or chemical warfare.
With the enactment of the Civil Defence Act 2002, the Civil Defence Board has assumed responsibility for Civil Defence at National level. Prior to this, the Civil Defence function at national level was the responsibility of the Minister for Defence and was normally delegated as a specific function to the Minister of State and administered by the Department of Defence.
Civil Defence is an organisation comprising of approximately 6000 members who voluntarily make themselves available in their spare time. Much of this time is devoted to attending classes to train for situations which is hoped will not happen in real life.
The classes are in many disciplines during this training period. The skills which they require include First Aid, Search and Rescue, Fire Fighting, Boating Techniques, Radiation Monitoring, Radio Communications and Welfare Provision.
Legislation
Civil Defence operates under legislation that includes the Air Raid Precautions Act 1939, Air Raid Precautions Amendment Act 1946,
Local Government Acts of 1941 to 2001, various Statutory Instruments and the Civil Defence Act 2002.
The Civil Defence Bill was passed by the Dáil on 26th March 2002. The Bill was signed into Law by the President on Friday 12th April 2002 and subsequently became known as the Civil Defence Act 2002.
The Civil Defence Act 2002 is the most important piece of Civil Defence legislation to be enacted in over 50 years. Following on from this legislation a new State Authority known as the Civil Defence Board was established to manage and develop Civil Defence at national level.
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