Neale Richmond
Dublin Rathdown · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I am grateful to Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this once again. I welcome the comments by his party leader this week when she declared that this is a great State and a great place to live in. It makes a welcome change from most other days of the week.”
“Another thing that must be looked at when discussing a united Ireland is that a lot of work has to be done to show example from political representatives on the base level of sectarianism that at least two other colleagues on these benches and I put up with every day.”
“They could not decide among themselves in the "Yes" campaign whether they would have a new form of sterling or a currency pegged to sterling or adopt the euro. That is not an issue for us. We join the European Union and we join the euro. It is simple as.”
“I will make a few concluding remarks to follow on from some of the points made by the Taoiseach in his opening iteration because in his 20 minutes he did not cover them all.”
“Over the coming months, we will act impartially serving as an honest broker among our fellow member states to progress many files in areas that were raised here today. Our work will respond to the overall interests and needs of the union, its member states and citizens across Europe.”
“More pertinently to the Deputy's questions, very real charges have been placed in The Irish Times and by other investigative journalists stating that the amounts of alumina being produced from Aughinish are going indirectly to the Russian war machine. If that is the case, it is completely unacceptable.”
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“Mariana Katzarova, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia has reported that there are over 2,000 political prisoners in Russia, many of whom face life-threatening conditions. Some, including Alexei Navalny, have died in detention. In her September 2025 report, the special rapporteur highlighted the prosecution of at least 912 people on politically motivated grounds between 2024 and mid-2025. At the Human Rights Council in September 2025, Ireland participated in an interactive dialogue with the special rapporteur, where we condemned the widespread use of torture, enforced disappearances, and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and punishment as tools for systematic oppression by Russia.”
“Ireland remains deeply concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Russia, which has been exacerbated by Russia’s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have seen a heightened number of arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as harassment and persecution, of peaceful anti-war activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures, members of the LGBTQI+ community and ethnic minorities. Domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted. Legislation has been introduced to limit civil society activity in Russia. The Russian authorities are rapidly expanding the numbers of individuals designated as foreign agents, terrorists or extremists to inhibit further any remaining scope for open political discussion.”
“There is zero place for antisemitism in Ireland or anywhere else around the world, but sadly we are seeing increasing levels of high-profile incidents, not necessarily in this State. It is therefore incumbent on us as elected representatives to lead, to engage with our local media and local communities and to make sure that we have this education foundation going to school-age children, which can then make its way into homes but also we need to reach out to those who are not in formal education any more as well.”
“I am very grateful to both the Deputies for their timely interventions. To directly answer Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's question, it is expected that these tours will be made available to Irish schools in the next academic year, so that is not too far away at this stage. There is a great opportunity for all of us as local representatives to engage with schools in our constituencies to encourage them to be part of this programme. Just making it available and providing funding are not enough alone. We need to encourage people to partake and we need to encourage people to speak out and be quite clear that Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion are forms of antisemitism.”
“There have been ongoing commitments in recent weeks where senior members of the Government have met regularly with representatives of Ireland's Jewish community, including the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Justice and Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. Most recently, the Minister, Deputy McEntee met with the Jewish Representative Council. Just last week, the Tánaiste visited Stratford College, the only Jewish denomination school in the country, with Deputy James Geoghegan and a number of other local representatives.”
“I want to elaborate a little on the work of the funding. The funding will build upon the existing programme of Holocaust education provided by the Department of Education and Youth in Irish schools. It will enable the foundation to make available to schools in Ireland virtual guided tours of the Auschwitz Museum and Memorial, further enhancing opportunities for Irish young people to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust. I do not need to repeat the worrying statistics that myself and the Deputy are both appalled by. Ireland places great value on the importance of education to counter Holocaust denial or distortion with inclusion of the Holocaust in the school curriculum. My Department works closely with the Department of Education and Youth.”
“The funding of €100,000 to Holocaust education is a strong illustration of the Government’s firm commitment to counter the scourge of antisemitism, of which Holocaust denial forms an important element.”
“We have also seen the results of the recent survey by the Claims Conference which demonstrate that, despite an existing strong programme of Holocaust education in Irish schools, 12% of those surveyed had never heard of, or were unsure if they had heard of, the Holocaust. Almost 10% of young adults in Ireland believe the Holocaust did not happen and many more again were unaware of the numbers of Jewish victims. These figures are outstanding and alarming. The programme for Government contains commitments to give effect to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and to the implementation of the EU Council declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism.”
“Through the Department, Ireland has provided grant funding for a number of years to the foundation’s perpetual fund for the essential work of maintaining the Auschwitz museum and preserving its artefacts for future generations. In 2025, a grant of €50,000 was made available for this purpose, marking the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation. The funding of €100,000, announced by the Minister, Deputy McEntee on the occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January, represents a significant increase on previous funding. This funding has been provided and is a response to the realisation that Holocaust denial and antisemitism generally has grown in recent times.”
“I thank the Deputy for this very timely and important question. Ireland is deeply committed to the cause of Holocaust remembrance and to ensuring that the suffering and horror of the Holocaust is never forgotten. At a time we are witnessing a deeply concerning rise in global antisemitism, including Holocaust denial and distortion, it is more important than ever that the victims of the Holocaust are honoured and that the lessons from that terrible time are learned. Ireland has a long-standing relationship with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, a non-profit, independent organisation created to secure the long-term preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. I am sure I am not alone in having visited the site over the years.”
“In fairness to the previous Minister, and I am sure it will be no different with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, briefings will be provided to the Opposition and there will be full engagement not only in this House but also in the Seanad, noting that the genesis of this was Senator Black's Bill back in 2018.”
“I absolutely respect and support the declaration of the foreign affairs committee last summer and of course I did not vote against the motion in the Dáil. I have no political obstacle to this. We have said consistently as a Government that we need to work in something that is fit for purpose in terms of international law. We have prepared legislation, as we committed to in the programme for Government, in relation to goods. There was the clear response, request and instruction from the foreign affairs committee on services. We sought advice from the Attorney General to provide that legal guarantee. That has been received and now we are looking for the technical details and responses.”
“Of course, the Deputy is right that any legislation can be challenged. We have made it quite clear that we will not produce legislation that we feel will actually fail the test of EU or international law. That is a very real commitment because we are talking about the rule of law and the importance of it. We have to act as such. I must stress that this is not the only thing the Irish Government is doing in relation to the absolute horrors of the genocide that is going on at the moment in Gaza. On our response at EU level, twice we have called for a suspension of the association agreement. We have asked for investigations under article 2. We have led the way. I am not looking for a clap on the back; I am just providing the context. We have no material opposition.”
“The clear point I was making is not necessarily in relation to EU law but the ability of different jurisdictions to progress legislation in a different manner as per their domestic parliamentary structures for creating legislation. We have to recognise that.”
“Since then, we have consistently looked for a way to do it for goods and then, following pre-legislative scrutiny at the foreign affairs committee, there was a request that we could guarantee services, bearing in mind that the Government commitment was only on goods initially. That is related to additional legal advice being provided. The legal advice has been digested by officials at the Department of foreign affairs and they have gone back to the Attorney General with additional questions. We await the clarifications on those. Some of them are technical and some are otherwise.”
“Let us be clear that Spain, using a different legal situation that did not need primary legislation as we do, was able to implement the ban on goods and also on the advertisement of services. That important distinction has not yet been made in this Chamber. There were commitments by the Belgians and the Dutch but they have not moved as far as the Irish Government has. The ICJ judgment made it quite clear. The then Taoiseach, Simon Harris, asked the Attorney General on foot of that ICJ judgment whether there was a pathway to pass a version of the original occupied territories Bill brought into the Seanad by Senator Frances Black - indeed I was in the Seanad with her at the time.”
“There are a few things there and I will try to answer them in order. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, obviously it is much easier to implement and find a vehicle for sanctions that have been adopted by the Union as a whole when it comes to an area of trade competence. It is important to be clear as to what is happening around Europe because people have made assertions about what is happening in other European jurisdictions. Four other EU states have expressed an interest, desire or commitment or have started the process following the Irish Government's commitment to do this in the programme for Government. I have discussed it with ministers at European Council level. Slovenia has a different legal system which does not require primary legislation in order to effect a ban on goods and goods alone.”
“The advice, which is detailed and extensive, identifies a number of significant legal and practical issues with the regulation by a member state of trade in services with a country or territory outside the European Union. Following detailed consideration by officials in the Department, clarification has been sought from the Attorney General on a number of legal issues. Any legislation must be legally robust, able to withstand challenge and progress the Government's broader policy agenda. Work is advancing across a number of strands at official level as well as engagement at EU level. It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and we continue to pursue this.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the programme for Government commitment. Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. There would also be greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case with regard to trade in goods. The Government has received the Attorney General’s advice on the question of whether the inclusion of services in the Bill is permissible under EU law.”
“Those diplomats deliver a level of compassion, care and service that all Irish citizens deserve regardless of the situation they find themselves in. We will continue to do that throughout our global network.”
“The Irish Government maintains a very open and frank level of engagement with the US Administration at all levels, not only at federal level but also at local level, particularly at state and city level. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is in the United States at the moment. Where appropriate, we always raise those concerns. I have to stress this point. On the rights of the individual, it is also their right not to notify the Irish Government and not to seek consular assistance. We have to respect that right of an Irish citizen in difficulty abroad. When they or their family or friends seek consular assistance, either directly through one of our diplomatic missions or through one of the very many agencies, organisations or partners we work with in any jurisdiction, our diplomats work day and night.”
“We provide that consular assistance, or more importantly, our diplomats provide that level of assistance to the highest degree. It is not only a professional response but a humanitarian one in many difficult cases. I have travelled to the United States five times since I was appointed to this brief and on each occasion met the Irish groups, whether in New York, Boston and Chicago, who are working with individuals who are frankly very worried. We are making sure our funding to those bodies has been increased. Indeed, our responsiveness has increased as well.”
“I have great empathy and I do not necessarily disagree with the Deputy on that point but there are very real challenges. People may have dual or triple citizenship and there are a lot of things at play. They may not want Irish Government assistance. One thing the Irish Government does in all jurisdictions is work through our network, not just of diplomatic missions but also through our coalition and alliances with Irish pastoral centres, community centres and the Irish Penal Trust which visits people who are incarcerated for whatever reason, to make sure that even where people are not seeking our assistance, they are aware we have a full obligation to Irish citizens wherever they may find themselves in the world and whatever difficulty they may find themselves in.”
“I assure the Deputy that my officials stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad wherever that may be. We have nine diplomatic missions in the United States. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the Department does not comment on individual cases in order to protect the identity of the citizen receiving consular assistance. As such, the Department cannot provide detail on locations, in case doing so could compromise the citizen's right to privacy.”
“I can confirm that the number of citizens who have requested assistance in relation to deportation from the United States of America in 2025 was 65. To date in 2026, the number of people who have requested assistance is one. The number of 65 may seem small but it is a 330% increase on the previous year. This includes both those who have already been deported and those who are still going through the deportation process, which may include being held in detention by ICE. It is important to note that this figure only relates to cases where a citizen or their family has requested assistance and does not necessarily reflect all deportations to Ireland or where a citizen is currently being detained by ICE.”
“I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad is a cornerstone of the work of the Department of foreign affairs. The provision of consular assistance is at the request of the citizen or, where the citizen cannot request such assistance, by a family member or friend. As such, there are many instances where a citizen gets into difficulty abroad and does not request consular assistance. In these cases, my Department may not necessarily be aware of their detention or impending deportation. For data relating to the activities of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the US Department of Homeland Security maintains a publicly available website.”
“We will consistently put this at the top of the agenda, namely the need for a real humanitarian surge into the region and a real plan to abolish famine in Sudan and make sure the embargo sticks.”
“I see no issue with that technical point. There are avenues to pursue that. The embargo in place is far from perfect on I think we can both agree but Ireland does believe in it. On keeping it on the agenda, at every Foreign Affairs Council and at every UN meeting I have attended, I have raised this. It is one of the key pillars of Irish interest - Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan – that is raised consistently in all international arenas and is met with real funding and belief among the people in regard to humanitarian support. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union does give us a clear opportunity in chairing those meetings, co-chairing Foreign Affairs Council meetings with the High Representative and in chairing development formations of the Foreign Affairs Council to ensure this is on the agenda.”
“We maintain regular discussion and contact to make sure our opinion, views and concern get across. On the embargo, I am more than happy to take that on to the next level and investigate that with the Deputy as appropriate.”
“On the humanitarian aspect, in terms of our partners, it is really important to stress the role of UNOCHA and the UN population fund. Ireland will continue to provide a commitment to all UN appeals because the humanitarian situation is grave. There is famine in Sudan, one of two man-made famines in the world at the moment, and it can be reversed through a co-ordinated humanitarian response and action. On raising this matter, we do so on a UN and an EU basis. I have met four Ministers from the UAE in the past six months and have raised it on two occasions with the relevant Minister. With the other two, it was not specifically relevant to their brief. I am due to meet the UAE ambassador in my constituency next Thursday and this will be a subject matter.”
“Last week, officials from my Department visited Adré on the Chadian-Sudanese border to visit refugee camps there and to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the situation; indeed, I hope to do a similar trip this calendar year. This will help to shape our ongoing humanitarian response. The Government will also continue to advocate for increased engagement on Sudan when Ireland assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year. It is essential that external engagement in the conflict ends. Specific allegations of violations of the UN embargo and EU sanctions are pursued, as the Deputy is aware, through UN and EU channels. All parties must comply fully with their obligations and refrain from any actions that prolong the conflict and fuel further violence.”
“It is vital to address the urgent humanitarian crisis, ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers and explore all avenues towards a credible and inclusive Sudanese-led political transition. The critical issue of humanitarian access and the need to remove bureaucratic impediments to aid are at the heart of our diplomatic engagement. Ireland's response also recognises the impact of the crisis on neighbouring countries, particularly in welcoming refugees. As the Deputy is aware, last year, we provided €14.3 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people most in need in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. We are committed to further increasing our funding and our focus on Sudan this year.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for consistently raising this issue. He is dead right; there is a distinct lack of attention on this around the world. I would like to think it is an exception here in Ireland. The Deputy is a part of that and I am very grateful for it. Last month, the conflict in Sudan reached its 1,000th day. It is continuing to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese people, particularly women and children. The escalating violence in the Kordofan states is deeply worrying and underlines the need to ensure Sudan remains firmly on the international agenda. Ireland has been a consistent advocate since the beginning of the conflict, including in the EU and UN, and as a principled and active donor. We remain resolute in our commitment to the Sudanese people.”
“Ireland has the responsibility to make itself present at the table and take every opportunity through European institutions and former Minister Byrne, multilateral institutions and on a bilateral level. Deputy Brennan is correct that we have a strong Irish diaspora in the United States. Next week, the Government will announce a full suite of St. Patrick’s Day trade missions involving Government Ministers and Oireachtas representatives and office holders like the Ceann Comhairle. Now is exactly the time when our Taoiseach should go to the White House and maintain that constant invitation. We do not just go when times are easy; we go when times are difficult too. Equally, we will see up to nine or ten Ministers go to 15 other US states and that ability to build relationships at a political and economic level is important.”
“I completely reject the assertions and some of the hyperbole from some of the Deputies present who if you were to listen to them, are running the European Parliament in their own sense, but I am not too sure if they could make their way to Strasbourg ordinarily. One point that was raised was that Ireland and the Taoiseach for some reason should not participate in the annual invitation to visit the White House or indeed engage in a full programme of the United States. This is an opportunity. As others have said, we have heard very important interventions from the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of Finland in relation to a values-based system that Ireland has signed up to. There is also the sheer fact, to paraphrase Prime Minister Carney, that if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”
“This gives me the opportunity to speak to two points. The first is trade diversification, which was raised by Deputy Ó Laoghaire, who, to his credit as ever, is still here. He raised this from a thoughtful point of view regarding how we look at opportunities afforded to us. This year, we hope to see the EU conclude trade deals with places like the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. We will see increased opportunities in places like Australia and other countries, all of particular interest to Irish exporters in the agrifood sector, but also in the tech and life sciences sectors and beyond. We are a Government that believes in rules-based international trade and in free and fair trade.”
“It is an extremely difficult and indeed volatile place. Deputy Brennan spoke about a number of areas, one being the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This has disappeared from the headlines, but was raised by a number of Deputies. Ireland continues to provide support, particularly for a number of UN agencies such as UNRWA. The Minister, Deputy McEntee was at the border crossing in Rafah just last week to announce greater commitments to the World Food Programme and others. Ireland has received an invitation from President Trump to join the board of peace. Only one country has turned down that invitation in Europe but it is something that requires reflection. We can all agree that as delicate as the ceasefire or lack thereof in Gaza is, and away from headlines, it is still crucially important.”
“Ireland made it clear in relation to Venezuela and the actions there, that while Maduro was a dictator, his removal completely lacked any legitimacy and there are very serious concerns about how it was carried out. The way we respond to that is through the multilateral system. Points were made by Deputy Butterly in terms of the complete hollowing out of USA identity over the past 12 months and going on to the next 12 months, and the contagion of that being felt around the developing world, given the abandonment of that development system. We see that in effect in particular in Sudan, which Deputy Ward alluded to. Ireland is contributing €14 million through UN agencies, ensuring that aid gets to where it needs to. I will be quite frank, as Deputy Ward raised the question of whether aid is getting through.”
“I greatly welcome the opportunity to briefly respond on aspects of this debate. It is a vitally important debate at, to be quite frank, an extremely delicate time in international politics, one that many people, in particular our Taoiseach have said, requires cool heads and very clear thought. It is also an opportunity to reassert absolutely and unconditionally Ireland’s commitment to the global rules-based order, multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, and of course the European Union, to which the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will speak in more detail. I absolutely echo the comments by Deputy O'Callaghan in relation to our respect for international law.”
“This sort of common-sense use of a Topical Issue is so important to make sure we are all working collectively for the greater good, in this case not only for the children, the families and the community more widely in St. Malachy's but for all those who face these issues. I thank the Deputy once again for raising this issue.”
“It is up to the committee to decide the best way to allocate it. I take no issue with the points the Deputy has raised. There is no pushback or opposition from this side of the House. We are all very much trying to achieve the same result in this. That is why I reiterate my invitation to the Deputy and representatives from the school to seek a deputation meeting with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who is probably the most appropriate, but if not, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on this matter. Whatever I can do in my power as a Minister of State within the Government to help the Deputy to facilitate that, that offer stands.”
“I thank the Deputy once again for raising this matter and for allowing an opportunity to discuss the school meals programme and, in particular, the breakfast and snack clubs. I assure him that the Ministers for Education and Youth and Social Protection are both very much aware of the importance of children being able to receive a breakfast meal before they start their school day. The breakfast or snack club is a targeted support to those most in need. The Department of Social Protection continues to expand the school meals scheme and has prioritised the rollout of hot school meals to all primary schools. In relation specifically to the situation in St. Malachy's in Finglas, I discussed the management structure and the operational need. The funding has been provided from the Department.”
“If there is anything that we can do to be supportive of the Deputy's efforts and to make sure that this is a school-led initiative, the Minister is more than happy to meet him, perhaps for a deputation meeting, should that be required.”
“When the hot school meals programme was being rolled out to original DEIS schools, they were entitled to retain meal club funding for their snack clubs. St. Malachy's Mixed National School is part of a school completion programme funded by the Department of Education and Youth, with operational responsibility managed by Tusla's education support service and a local management committee. The committee is responsible for the oversight of the project delivery at a local level, including the use of project resources, employment of staff and accountability of public funds. The Department of Social Protection has provided the funding request from St. Malachy's Mixed National School and the local management committee of the school completion programme is considering how best to utilise the funding.”
“Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to continue to expand and improve the free hot school meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recycled packaging. As the rate of payment for a breakfast club and snack club funding are the same, some schools operationally split the snack club funding allocated between breakfast and snack. This does not alter their total allocation. St. Malachy's Mixed National School has been in the school meals programme since 2016 and continues to receive payment for a snack club and hot school meals for 131 pupils. The total funding allocation for this school year is €93,141.”
“There are a number of meals clubs available under the school meals programme. The breakfast club is but one of them and was aimed at DEIS schools pre 2022 to ensure that the most disadvantaged children were able to have a breakfast meal before school. To date, 778 schools are receiving the breakfast club. This means that 149,401 children benefit from this club, at an annual cost of €19.4 million. An evaluation of the schools meal programme was conducted in 2023. The report highlighted the effectiveness of the programme, including improved academic results. Studies show that school meals improve academic performance by increasing the time children spend in school and so provide support for families. The programme saves money and time on food preparation.”
“I am very grateful to Deputy Ellis for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. The objective of the school meals programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. In the last budget, the hot school meals programme was extended to all remaining primary schools. This means that approximately 3,700 schools and 682,000 children are eligible for school meals. There are 3,200 primary schools participating in the hot school meals programme for the current academic school year. A budget of €286 million has been provided for the scheme in 2026.”
“The ComReg consumer care team is also dedicated to offering help to all consumers who may experience difficulties with their mobile phones, home phones or broadband providers, including vulnerable elderly people and consumers with disabilities who experience difficulties in outages or have no service. Where a consumer has difficulty with a provider, it recommends contacting its consumer care team, which can be done via a wide variety of channels outlined on its website. An information campaign is under way now to make sure that people are aware of those channels and that it is not simply when the event happens that people are desperately seeking around to know how to make contact, particularly when that might be the very reason the person is having to make contact.”
“The Department will continue to engage with relevant processes developed as a result of Storm Éowyn and, where appropriate, link industry with developments in State response measures, including central government and local government. The review recognises the importance of the role that An Post played during Storm Éowyn. When the impact of the storm on telecoms and data infrastructure made contacting people difficult, An Post staff delivering post provided a direct link to persons living in remote locations and checked on the welfare of older or vulnerable individuals. An Post has indicated a willingness to continue to support the co-ordinated response to a national or local emergency in this capacity.”
“The review of Storm Éowyn, published in October of last year, by the Department of housing recognised the particular challenges of providing humanitarian support to vulnerable people during emergencies, acknowledging the complex and multisectoral nature of developing effective response measures and the complexities of defining, reporting and sharing information in relation to vulnerable people. However, it did more than just acknowledge it. Some of the recommendations of the review include exploring outreach structures to ensure communication is possible with vulnerable and isolated people in the event of an emergency, where typical challenges of communication are unavailable, and that the area of vulnerable people be further developed under the auspices of the Government task force on emergency planning.”