The recent All-Island Resilience Conference was the first in a series of annual Disaster Risk Reduction Conference series, hosted by the Office of Emergency Planning at the Department of Defence and formed part of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.
This series of All-Island Disaster Risk Reduction Conference is taking place in light of the impact of significant crises and emergency situations on a cross-border basis in Ireland. The aim is to promote north-south dialogue on strategic emergency management and commission research to inform cross-border co-operation on preparedness and resilience.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, said that through the Shared Island initiative, “the Government is working to deepen cross-border dialogue and co-operation, so that we work together north and south, to address common challenges and take up opportunities for the island of Ireland.
“The all-island resilience conference series will build on existing strong relationships and cooperation by the government and Northern Ireland Executive and Emergency Services North and South, to identify new and emerging issues on emergency planning that can benefit from a cross-border focus.”
Research funding calls on cross-border aspects to emergency planning and co-operation were announced at the inaugural conference on 9 November, specifically on topics of all-island supply chain risks on food shortages as well as on emergency public safety messaging to border communities.
Sessions were held on specific resilience-focused topics led by sector experts including cross-border crisis co-operation in health, cyber resilience, shared island critical infrastructure, and a practical all-island resilience exercise. There was also a panel discussion on climate adaptation, with experts from meteorological organisations, climate academics and policy makers from across the island.
To apply for research grants and details on available funding email [email protected]
For further information on the Shared Island initiative visit www.gov.ie/sharedisland.
