O'Dea: We were not asked for assistance

The Defence Minister has been defending the Government's performance during the recent cold snap.

Willie O'Dea said that his department were not used to help those worst hit because they were not asked.

The Minister said the Defence Forces are now on standby to help local authorities deal with the severe weather conditions.

After talks at the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre, Minister O’Dea said he had ordered Army chiefs to make recruits immediately available for the country’s battle against the freeze.

Soldiers will be made available to help with general emergency transportation of foodstuffs, medicines, goods and personnel while air patrols are also being put on standby.

“It is the responsibility of the each local authority to request the assistance of the Defence Forces,” said a spokeswoman for the minister.

The NRA will be meanwhile be tasked with getting salt supplies into the country to grit roads, while the Civil Defence is also on standby.

The Government’s Inter-Departmental Emergency Co-ordination Group, which met for the first time today, has decided that the Department of the Environment will now coordinate the response to the weather.

The group is is to meet again tomorrow.