Global disaster response plan criticised

GOVERNMENT moves to set-up a 50-strong expert volunteer team for rapid deployment in global disaster areas drew criticism from relief agencies last night.

GOAL director John O’Shea expressed concern the initiative could hoover up the best talent available and leave his and other organisations worse off.

Mr O’Shea was responding to Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern’s appeal for volunteers to come forward to form a Rapid Response Corps ready to go into natural emergency areas at short notice.