Editing Continuity of Government (section)

=== Ireland ===
In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[National Security Committee (Ireland)|National Security Committee]] (NSC) is the conduit for officials to communicate with the [[Taoiseach]] (Prime Minister) and/or cabinet members if the normal channel of communication with their minister became unavailable. Drafts of emergency powers legislation have been drawn up in secret, including legislation to deal with circumstances such as an attack on cabinet involving numerous deaths.<ref name="national security">{{cite book |last=Mulqueen |first=Michael |date=2009 |title=Re-Evaluating Irish National Security Policy: Affordable Threats? |publisher=Manchester University Press |location=Manchester|isbn=978-0-7190-8027-2}}</ref>

During the period of the [[Cold War]], it was envisaged that cabinet ministers, senior civil servants and military advisers would use an underground nuclear bunker at [[Custume Barracks]] in [[Athlone]] in the event of a nuclear exchange. The bunker was equipped with a command and control centre with communications equipment – which had a hotline to the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] in [[Whitehall]] – a map room pointing out important areas for protection, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Waking up to a nuclear nightmare...|url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/waking-up-to-a-nuclear-nightmare-25908547.html|access-date=29 October 2016|publisher=[[Irish Independent]]|date=31 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=De Breadun|first1=Deaglan|title=Memo reveals plans for nuclear bunker|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/memo-reveals-plans-for-nuclear-bunker-1.344168|publisher=The Irish Times|date=3 January 2003}}</ref>