Election Process of National Volunteer Representative to Inter Agency Guidance Team (IGT), 12th October 2019

16 October 2019

The former national volunteer representative on the Inter Agency guidance Team (IGT) Mr. Fergal Conroy, notified the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence that he was stepping down on 26th July 2019. This was as a result of his appointment as Civil Defence Officer in Roscommon.

It was therefore necessary to select a successor, to ensure volunteers continue to be represented on the IGT.

The IGT was established in 2016 on foot of the publication of the 2015 Government White Paper on Defence. The role of the IGT is to ensure that “Civil Defence services and capabilities are developed in light of the needs of the PRAs under the MEM”. It is also to ensure “that Civil Defence services remain relevant to changing needs at national, regional and local level”.

It has met six times since its establishment in 2016. The next meeting is scheduled for 13th November 2019.

The draft Circular outlining “arrangements for the election of a volunteer representative on the Civil Defence Inter Agency Guidance Team” was sent to Local Authorities for their observations on 30th July 2019. Following feedback, the final version (Circular 5/2019) issued to Local Authorities on 22nd August 2019.

Following the completion of the local representative election process, the following are the returns received per Local Authority Civil Defence Unit:

 
County Name of Local Volunteer Representative
Dublin Paul Morgan
Limerick Michael J Ryan
Kildare Anthony Doyle
Wicklow Ger Keogh
Westmeath No volunteer wished to put themselves forward
Cavan Verona Fitzpatrick
Louth David Yore
Meath Shane Quinn
Monaghan Desmond Cunningham
Donegal No volunteer wished to put themselves forward
Leitrim Patrick McGreevy
Sligo Philip Bishop
Laois No volunteer wished to put themselves forward
Longford Paraic Croghan
Offaly Pat J Kelly
Clare Martin Kelly
Tipperary John Crowley
Galway Eóin Davy O’Coisdealbha
Mayo Fran Power
Roscommon Patrick Geraghty
Carlow Gerard Doyle
Kilkenny No Volunteer wished to put themselves forward
Waterford Paul Fitzgerald
Wexford Anne Browne
Cork City Peter Bowles
Cork North Edel Browne
Cork West Donal Shorten
Cork South Chris Bristow
Kerry Brendan Mulvihill

The national meeting of local authority volunteer representatives took place in Civil Defence Headquarters, Roscrea on Saturday 12th October 2019. Following the ballot, Mr. Shane Quinn (Meath Civil Defence) was chosen to represent volunteers on the IGT.

The Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence congratulates Shane on his successful election.

We wish him well for his two year term as a member of the IGT and look forward to working with him on issues of strategic policy for the organisation. The Deputy National Volunteer is Verona Fitzpatrick (Cavan Civil Defence) and she will deputise for Shane if/when he is not available to attend an IGT meeting.