Members of Wicklow emergency services attend seminar

EMERGENCY service organisations in Wicklow were present at Lynham’s Hotel for a Major Emergency Management (MEM) seminar.

The MEM framework sets out common arrangements and structures for front line public sector emergency management. The framework is based on internationally recognised systems and concentrates on five stages of emergency management: hazard identification, mitigation, preparedness and response.

The emergency service groups represented at the seminar included the Irish Coast Guard, Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team, Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team, Wicklow Fire Service, Wicklow County Council, Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, Civil Defence, HSE and National Ambulance Service, Defence Forces, RNLI ( Wicklow and Arklow), Red Cross, St John’s Am- bulance, Order of Malta and the Garda National MEM Office.

Local gardaí in attendance included Chief Supt John Quirke (Bray), Supt Frank Ferry (Baltinglass), Supt Pat Ward (Bray) and Supt Paul Hogan ( Wicklow).

A presentation was made by Chief Supt Quirke to a representative of each of the services in appreciation of the great work they have carried out on behalf of the wider community down through the years.