Daniel Sullivan - he’s a little political

My first parliamentary question

// January 26th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

So I’m a bit behind Eoin when it comes to having questions asked in the Dáil but I’m pleased enough that today is my first one. And I think it is reasonably timely given the recent weather based problems we’ve had and the lack of warning for flood or updates as to the state of the response for roads and so on.

Apparently, the minister for Communications Eamonn Ryan will be asked by Simon Coveney to consider introducing an emergency alerts system, using mobile phone mast infrastructure, to would allow the Government to make contact directly with the public on a targeted regional basis in response to emergency situations in order to improve direct communication between the National Emergency Centre and the public and if he will make a statement on the matter?

As you might have read before I was wondering why we’ve not taken to using the cell broadcast facility in the mobile phone infrastructure as a more up to date version of the old Emergency broadcast network that was so believed of sci-fi and disaster films down the years. It is amazing that as we are moving into the realm of apps from daft.ie that can alert you to the presence of houses for sale in the area you happen to be in that the government and local authorities can’t tell everyone via their mobiles to close their doors or evacuation the area. In the US there has already been movement to require operators to allow the emergency services use this facility.

With the fractured nature of our radio and television listener/viewer ship, the days of everyone hunkered down to listen to the radio, and anyway the nature of an emergency is that it is unexpected, they can happen at night when people are sleeping. Sure it won’t reach everyone but it will reach more people, and they can alert those who don’t get the message. Even if the message is to switch on the radio at a certain time for more information, or a smartURL via YourPinpoints to direct you a safe evacuation point.

Alerting people to floods and other emergencies

// November 23rd, 2009 // 5 Comments » // technology

Amazing that a) there appears to have been no means to alert people (not just officials) in Cork city in time that the dam were to be let out and b) that there appear in many cases to have been no local or building specific plans put into effect to deal with a deluge, the Mercy hospital being a notable exception. In dealing with a) we should say there is in fact a cell broadcast facility in mobile phone technology that would have allowed everyone with a mobile defined by cells to be notified that the dam was about to let out and to take action accordingly. Sure, local radio is very popular in more rural areas but the mentality wherever you happen to be that you should be sat by the radio to ensure that you hear about the warning is utterly arse over backwards. Why the state in awarding mobiles licences doesn’t make use of the access to the network in emergencies is beyond me.

As for b) taking the city library in Cork as an example, what was the action plan that building had for dealing with emergencies? Books in boxes moved to higher ground would have taken a few hours with 15/20 people and saved tens of thousands. Its like they say about having your own fire plans for your home, if there is an alarm then know what is it you are going to do when it sounds . And I don’t even want to think about the Glucksman basement. Was there no one available or responsible for ensuring the contents were safely stored given the forecast.