Other Questions
6. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence his response to claims by the outgoing President of PDFORRA at its recent conference that, because of cutbacks, the Defence Forces are not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48495/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra14. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Defence the resources he has provided for the re-skilling of members of the Defence Forces and if he will demonstrate that they are adequate at this time. [48461/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra20. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Defence in the context of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, the criteria for relocating a member of the Defence Forces from one post to another. [48460/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 20 together.
Again we are coming back to the issue Deputy Ó Fearghaíl raised earlier. I am sure Members will not be surprised to hear me say that I absolutely reject the claim of the former president of PDFORRA. The Government remains committed to maintaining the capacity and capability of the Defence Forces to undertake the roles assigned by Government within an establishment of 9,500 serving personnel. Against that background, I tasked the Secretary General of the Department and the Chief of Staff to bring forward proposals for a reorganisation of the Defence Forces. Having considered the matter in detail, I accepted the proposals of the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff that the Army component of the Defence Forces be reduced from a three-brigade to a two-brigade structure. A three-brigade structure, which had originally been designed for a force of 11,500, could not be sustained in the context of maintaining numbers at 9,500 without impacting on the capacity of the Defence Forces to deliver the services required by Government. A reorganisation of the Air Corps and Naval Service within their reduced strengths as set out in the employment control framework is also being finalised as part of the reorganisation.
Crucially, the representative associations in the Defence Forces, including PDFORRA, have been closely engaged in the implementation planning process as part of the Croke Park agreement and have had significant input into the planning of the ongoing implementation process. A detailed implementation plan, which has been the subject of extensive consultation with the representative associations, has been finalised and issued to formation commanders and made available to all members of the Defence Forces. This plan sets out the assignment criteria for members of the Defence Forces whose current appointment is directly impacted by the reorganisation. These criteria cover such areas as whether the individual holds the rank of the appointment in question, has the required qualifications, had to change station due to barracks closures in the past four years and his or her length of service in the Defence Forces.
Training requirements arising from the reorganisation will only become fully apparent as personnel are allocated appointments in the new structure. Relevant military personnel, in conjunction with the directorate of Defence Forces training staff, are identifying the skills gaps resulting from the reorganisation and reassignment process as it is being implemented. Detailed planning for the training effort required will be incorporated into the development of the 2013 annual training directive. The training plan will be structured such that it can be delivered within the training resources available at formation level and within the Defence Forces training centre. The plan is to fully complete all retraining and reskilling requirements arising from the reorganisation within an 18 month timeframe.
The Government recognises that the reorganisation currently underway is a major change in the organisation and structure of the Defence Forces. The extent of it should not be underestimated. I am cognisant of the demands we are placing on members of the Defence Forces. However, it is important that now the decision has been made, we move quickly to implement the reorganisation and provide certainty for personnel. I am advised by the Chief of Staff that the reorganisation will be largely completed by the end of November 2012.
We are, I suppose, at this stage going over ground we have already covered. As such, I will be brief.
The Minister spoke about the demands which the reorganisation is placing on members of the Defence Forces. It is important to say that Defence Forcse personnel are dealing with this reorganisation and are looking to the Minister's promised White Paper which may bring further reorganisation. What is the current strength of the Defence Forces? Perhaps the Minister would also give us some indication of the reaction of serving members to the demands of the reorganisation. As I understand it, many young, talented and highly skilled personnel, in which the Department of Defence has invested heavily in terms of training and upskilling, are actively leaving the Defence Forces resulting in a significant loss of experience and talent which will be a serious blow to the future development of the Defence Forces.
I am not aware that a large number of skilled personnel are actively disengaging from the Defence Forces. There has been no evidence to this effect since the announcement of the reorganisation. Retirement from the Defence Forces exceeded 500 in the first two months of this year. However, this derived from the facility available under the public service arrangements put in place to enable individuals to retire by 29 February while retaining pensions based on the previous salary position. As regards the current strength of the Defence Forces, the Deputy will be aware that as a consequence of recent retirements agreement was reached on the recruitment of 600 new recruits to the Defence Forces. Following analysis at the end of February, a gap in officer grade and of ordinary listed personnel was identified. In June last, we advertised for 600 new recruits to the Defence Forces, in respect of which we received more than 10,000 applications. Given the number of applications and the need to properly examine them, including undertaking the normal processes of medicals, interviews and so on, it was September before those to be recruited were identified. In excess of 400 new recruits are currently in training. The objective is to bring the strength of the Defence Forces as close as possible to the 9,500 target by the end of this year. Deputy Mac Lochlainn will be aware that this issue was raised and discussed at some length today during our discussions on the Defence Forces Supplementary Estimate.
PDFORRA represents the overwhelming majority of our Defence Forces personnel. It is important we take its analysis seriously, in particular the quotations of its general secretaries and outgoing presidents, some of which Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has already highlighted.
In recent years, the Army barracks in Mullingar, Castlebar, Cavan, Lifford, Letterkenny and Longford have been closed, which has sapped the morale of the Defence Forces personnel in terms of their having to relocate and the impact of this on their families. It is stated in a media report today that 56 2nd field engineers, who are also known as the searchers who assist the Garda Síochána in dealing with gangland and gun crime, are being relocated to Athlone, as a result of which their response time will be quadrupled. Members of this House who represent areas wherein the Defence Forces are based will have received representations on this issue.
Morale in the Defence Forces has been sapped, not alone by this Government but by the process, over the past couple of years. I had the honour last week of visiting Collins Barracks in Cork with other members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality where I saw first-hand the professionalism and commitment of our Defence Forces. While there we were taken out on the L.E. Ciara by the naval force, the personnel of which are visionary, professional, innovative and dynamic. We must let our Defence Forces personnel know that we value the role which they play and will try not to turn their lives up-side-down, in terms of retraining, forced relocation - that is what is happening whether we like it or not - barracks closures and so on. The Minister cannot offer a blanket defence all of the time to what we are hearing from the people on the front line.
We have moved a wonderful distance in this country. I do not mean that sarcastically. It is particularly interesting and important that Sinn Féin is concerned about the future of the Defence Forces and its operational capacity. For a long time Sinn Féin Party members did not recognise - at least their predecessors did not - the Defence Forces and often saw some of them as targets. It is refreshing to hear Deputy Mac Lochlainn's concerns.
We are involved in a reorganisation which has resulted in some barracks closures. People are uncomfortable with change. We cannot continue to operate the Defence Forces in the year 2012 on the basis on which they operated in the 1980s or early 1990s. Change is inconvenient. It does affect people. However, membership of the Defence Forces involves change. Very often a promotion involves relocation to a new barracks. People in the Defence Forces have opportunities to develop a range of skills. There is an understandable resistance to change but this change that is being effected is one that members of the Defence Forces should celebrate as it provides new opportunities and ensures we can maintain strength at 9,500, thus not degrading the Defence Forces through reduced numbers. There would be no benefit in keeping barracks open with inadequate numbers. This is about learning the lessons of how Defence Forces can best operate.
As regards personnel and how they will be affected by the reorganisation, individual preferences to serve in particular geographical locations will be considered in the context of maintaining Defence Force capability. In so far as practicable every serving member whose unit is being moved will have the opportunity to move with his or her unit or to take up a new appointment within or close to his or her existing location. Every effort will be made to accommodate members of the Defence Forces. Inevitably, some personnel will have to change location in order to fill appointments in the new organisation. However, every effort is being made to minimise the impact of this. Decisions in respect of all affected locations and units are currently being worked out. The reorganisation is being dealt with in the context of consultations with the representative bodies.
When it comes to identifying whether a particular unit with particular skills should be located in Cork, Athlone or Dublin, I must rely on the operational judgments and expertise of the Chief of Staff and those working under him.
I am not, as Minister, going to take it on my shoulders to assume I have the military expertise to know where to properly locate individuals. Prior to our announcing the location of the headquarters of the two brigades a substantial campaign to maintain brigade leadership in Athlone was conducted. Certain guarantees were given that the numbers in the barracks in Athlone would be approximately 1,000. I understand it will work out at between 970 and 980 in practical terms, as there is always some movement. This results in Athlone barracks having a larger number of members of the Defence Forces located there than when I took up this position. When Deputy O'Dea was Minister the maximum number of members of the Defence Forces in Athlone was 900. I will not second-guess operational decisions either with the Chief of Staff in the Army or the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. It is for the Chief of Staff to determine how best to implement the re-organisation and to decide where particular skills or capabilities should be.
When I say there is opportunity in all of this for members of the Defence Forces, those who want to acquire different skills will have an opportunity, where appropriate, to change units. Certainly some members will be asked to move to a different location in the context of the re-arrangement being made, but this is not a new thing in the Defence Forces. When one joins the Defence Forces one does not join on the basis of being positioned in a particular barracks for 21 years. This is not the way it works in practice, it is not the way it could work in practice and is not the way it works in practice with any army, navy, air force or defence force anywhere else in the world.
Unfortunately the Minister referred to Sinn Féin's position on the Defence Forces. I am very proud of our Defence Forces. I am proud of the role they have played throughout the world in peacekeeping. I am deeply sorry that in periods in history they were brought into conflict with republicans due to the conflict in the North of Ireland. It was a great tragedy. I am very proud of our Defence Forces and I am proud of the role they have played in our communities and of the role of the Reserve Defence Force. I want to be very clear on this. Fine Gael, the law and order party, which absolutely berated the previous Government on these issues is now telling us that PDFORRA, which represents members of the Defence Forces on the front line, is wrong and irresponsible when it speaks about the impact on its members. Soldiers cannot say these things due to their position and must speak off the record to the media to say this will have an impact on their ability to support the Garda in tackling crime. One cannot ignore this. The law and order party of Fine Gael, which relentlessly berated the previous Government about these matters, is now telling us that is a different world. It now says that these organisations, which it freely quoted in the Chamber in the past, are now not worth listening to. Come on.
We might do well not to politicise these discussions as much as we have been doing today. The Minister has a job of work to do to convince representative bodies of his commitment in this area. I accept his intentions are positive but it might be useful if he could report to us at some stage that he has been actively engaging with the representative bodies. He did not attend the annual conference, and perhaps he might have been able to communicate more effectively his position on this if he had been there. He was ably represented by the Minister of State. It would be good for the Minister to engage as directly as it is possible for him to do.
I have met PDFORRA in the past. I attended a previous conference. The Minister of State attended the most recent conference. It is very valuable and important that he is engaged in this matter. With regard to the suggestion I do not listen to PDFORRA, the representative bodies are very important in the Defence Forces and they have been very constructively engaged in addressing a series of issues. I distinguished the constructive, helpful and informative engagement that takes place most of the year and of course there will be disagreements on some issues. This is the nature of the way the world works when one has a representative body on one side and a Department on the other. I like to constructively work through issues when they arise. I merely made the comment that unfortunately when it comes to annual conferences people say things or perhaps exaggerate complaints because of the atmosphere these conferences create-----
A bit like political party conferences.
-----or perhaps the need to ensure the media, who are absent from the Chamber today, take some notice of an issue relating to defence.
I very much welcome Sinn Féin's support for our Defence Forces. I recognise its recognition that on this side of the island there is only one legitimate army, which can call itself Óglaigh na hÉireann; its recognition it should simply have a political wing and no longer have a military wing; and the fact that the military wing does not exist. I welcome all of this. However, let the Deputy not re-invent history. The Defence Forces were not drawn into an unfortunate conflict which was taking place in Northern Ireland. Conflict took place in Northern Ireland. It was a conflict of murder and mayhem in which many people lost their lives who should never have lost their lives and in which the Provisional IRA was fully engaged and saw the Defence Forces of this State as its enemy-----
Absolutely untrue.
-----in so far as either the Defence Forces or the Garda Síochána sought to engage and through investigative work and intelligence work curtailed the ambition of those who existed on this island who were committed to killing other people. Let us not rewrite history but let us also not dwell on history because-----
You just rewrote history yourself. You did a fine job.
It is much better that we have these rows in this Parliament than re-engage in other areas.
What about the murder and mayhem in Israel? What about your friends in Israel who are responsible for murder and mayhem? You welcomed the Minister. What about those people who commit murder and mayhem in Palestine when you are welcoming the Minister?
Deputy please. We have finished with the question.
I am not sure what relevance Palestine has to our discussion on the Defence Forces.
You endorse them fully so do not use words like murder and mayhem when you endorse that type of approach in Palestine.
The Deputy should not articulate prejudices in this Parliament.
No. Your factual statements-----
Could we have some calm please?
The Deputy should not articulate his prejudices in this Parliament.
Statements of fact you have made on the record.
Order please.
7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if he will give an undertaking to maintain the border allowance for those Defence Forces personnel currently in receipt of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48501/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will maintain the border allowance payment in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48827/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 158 together.
Border duty allowance was introduced in January 1972 and is still in existence. It was introduced because of some activities going on in Northern Ireland with which Deputy Mac Lochlainn will be familiar. Border duty allowance is similar to security duty allowance which is payable to Defence Forces personnel engaged on extended security duties in non-Border areas, for example cash escorts. Persons in receipt of Border duty allowance do not receive security duty allowance.
The Department sought to cease payment of Border duty allowance under the modernisation agenda contained in the Towards 2016 defence sector action plan. Following disagreement between the Department and the representative associations this issue went to binding third party adjudication. The adjudicator found in favour of the association and ruled that the allowance should continue to be retained on a personal to holder basis for those personnel who were in receipt of it on 3 February 2009.
Accordingly Border duty allowance has been ceased for new entrants since February 2009, at which time there were 1,017 recipients. The allowance is being phased out as current holders retire or leave the Defence Forces and at the end of October 2012, 761 personnel were in receipt of the allowance.
As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform undertook a review of allowances and premium payments across the public sector and proposals were brought to Government for decision. Further to this, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published the results of this review of allowances and the outcome of the Government decision on its website at www.per.gov.ie.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
In the interests of bringing forward these savings to the pay bill, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to the Department instructing management to immediately engage with staff interests with a view to securing their early agreement to the elimination of certain Defence Forces allowances payable to current beneficiaries including Border duty allowance. Accordingly the issue of allowances, including Border duty allowance, is currently the subject of discussions between management and the representative associations under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Defence Forces. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions under this scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this issue at this juncture.
Does the Minister accept that the Border allowance received by a declining number of members of the Defence Forces is part of core pay and covered by the Croke Park agreement? Will he, in his dealings with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, fight to ensure the allowance, which is essential to those who hold it, is retained? Will he give the House that assurance?
It was during Deputy O'Dea's time as Minister for Defence that the allowance was terminated and that the aforementioned conciliation process took place. This ensured that, from 2009 onwards, the allowance would not continue. There is now a legacy such that more than 700 members of the Defence Forces, a substantial number of whom are not engaged in Border duties, are in receipt of the allowance as a result of an adjudication.
With regard to the review of allowances by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the outcome of the Government decision, in the interest of reducing the pay bill, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to my Department instructing management to engage with staff interests immediately with a view to securing their early agreement to the elimination of certain Defence Forces allowances payable to current beneficiaries, including the Border duty allowance. The issue of allowances, including the Border duty allowance, is the subject of discussions between management and the representative associations under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Defence Forces. That is part of the procedural approach prescribed under the Croke Park agreement. The Deputy will appreciate that, as discussions under the scheme are confidential to the parties, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the issue at this juncture. I do not want to say anything that might prejudice the discussions. The approach I have outlined is part and parcel of addressing legacy issues that need to be addressed in circumstances in which the resources of this State are limited and must be used carefully and wisely.
8. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the situation with regard to the governance of the Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48504/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraPursuant to the Red Cross Act of 1938, the Irish Red Cross Society was established by Government order in 1939 as an independent charitable body corporate with full power to manage and administer its own affairs through its governing body, its central council. At first, the 1939 order underwent piecemeal changes only but, following a turbulent period in the recent history of the Irish Red Cross, earlier this year the Government approved the Irish Red Cross Society (Amendment) Order, which represented the most wide-ranging and fundamental set of changes to have occurred since the establishment of the society in 1939.
In summary, the key changes made in the amendment order were as follows. The composition of the society's general assembly was altered to the extent that not more than 10% of its membership are now nominated by the Government. The position heretofore had been that not less than one third was nominated by the Government. In keeping with best practice internationally, the executive powers of the President of Ireland were withdrawn. Previously the President had the power to call an emergency general meeting and to nominate the chairperson of the society. In accordance with the rules of the society, the chairperson is now elected and appointed by the members of the society's general assembly. The President remains honorary president of the society and is its sole patron. The amendment order gave legal effect to the society's revised constitution and its amended rules and governance structures. The central council was renamed as the general assembly and the executive committee as the board of directors.
Pending approval of the amendment order, the society's revised constitution and amended rules had been approved at a meeting of the central council in March 2012. The changes made had been developed in close collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, and meet the rigorous standards these organisations set for good governance internationally.
The constitution and rules of the society now provide for a general assembly and board profile which introduces external expertise to the organisation. For example, the society's chairperson can now co-opt two external people directly onto the board of directors to ensure there is a good balance of professional expertise and experience. Furthermore, the society's nominations committee can also bring a number of external people, currently four, onto the general assembly, which also adds to the diversity of experience and expertise available to the society's highest deliberative authority.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
The society's constitution now also provides that a member of the board of directors must stand down for one full three-year term once he or she has served on the board for two consecutive three-year terms.
Following the Government's approval of the amendment order, and in accordance with the society's revised constitution, in May of this year the Government approved the nomination of four nominees to the society's general assembly. These four individuals were carefully chosen for the value their experience and expertise can bring to the society, and I am pleased to note that three of the four were subsequently elected to the board of directors by the members of the society's general assembly. Both the approval of the amendment order and the subsequent nomination of these four high calibre individuals to the general assembly of the society represent significant and important steps taken by this Government in helping to restore the full confidence of the public in the Irish Red Cross Society. These steps, allied to the rule and constitutional changes made by the society itself, provide for corporate governance arrangements that bring the Irish Red Cross into the 21st century. There is clearly a strong impetus for change within the society itself and while a lot of important measures have been taken over the past year and a half, I urge the society to maintain the momentum it has built up.
Furthermore, the programme for Government provides for the initiation of a detailed legal review of the basis, structures and governance of the Red Cross in Ireland to improve its functioning in the light of changing circumstances. My Department has commenced work on the review and I anticipate this will result in a Red Cross (amendment) Bill during the lifetime of this Government.
Does the Minister intend to bring forward a new Red Cross Bill for consideration? If so, what is the timeframe? Is the Minister happy that the serious deficiencies previously identified in the accounting system of the Red Cross have been addressed? In any legislation the Minister brings forward, will there be strict time limits on the duration of appointments to the board?
On the last question, the society's constitution now provides that a member of the board of directors must stand down for one full three-year term once he or she has served on the board for two consecutive three-year terms. I am concerned in particular that some individuals were on the board repeatedly and that there was neither the opportunity for change or for others to become members of the board. Following the Government's approval of the amendment order, and in accordance with the society's revised constitution, in May of this year the Government approved the nomination of four nominees to the society's general assembly. These four individuals were carefully chosen for the value their experience and expertise can bring to the society, and I am pleased to note that three of the four were subsequently elected to the board of directors by the members of the society's general assembly.
Both the approval of the amendment order and the subsequent nomination of these high calibre individuals to the general assembly of the society represent very significant and important steps. In the context of dealing with the issue of membership, there were individuals who had been on the ruling body of the society for many years. In the recent elections, two of them did not stand. In effect, much of the reform I was anxious to achieve has been achieved in the context of dialogue in which I engaged with the society from a very early stage after my appointment. There has been a sea change in the context of the rules and regulations and the society's constitution. Work is ongoing with regard to the new legislation we have promised in this area. I cannot give an exact timeframe because of the pressures on the legislative schedule in the Office of the Attorney General but I assure the Deputy that I am committed to that legislation. It is part of the programme for Government and it will come before the House at the earliest possible opportunity.
9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he envisages any support being provided from his Department for the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women in view of the assistance the organisation provides for former Defence Forces' personnel who are experiencing difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48457/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra34. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the supports the State will provide to the needs of ex- Defence Forces members in difficulties and to organisations such as the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48465/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 34 together.
The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE, which has enjoyed the long-standing official recognition of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, is an organisation dedicated to looking after the welfare of ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces by way of providing accommodation to homeless, elderly or disabled members in need of such domestic accommodation and shelter and other assistance that may be required. ONE is a limited company with charitable status.
In recognition of the work that ONE undertakes on behalf of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen, my Department provides to it an annual subvention of €40,000. This annual subvention is paid in quarterly instalments, subject to the submission by ONE of certified accounts. The funding is provided to support the general overheads of the organisation and expressly not for the provision of services that are provided to citizens, including members of ONE, from other arms of the State. This covers housing, health, social assistance, etc.
In addition to the funding provided to ONE, my Department also provides annual funding to a second officially recognised veterans association, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA. Membership of IUNVA, which was formed in 1990, is open to any person, serving or retired, who has successfully completed a tour of duty with a UN force or organisation.
Clearly, the work that ONE undertakes makes a very tangible difference to the lives of many former members of the Defence Forces each year. In this context, it is appropriate that I acknowledge the staff and board of directors of ONE and commend them on their ongoing hard work and commitment to the organisation over the years.
I thank the Minister for the answer. He is very well aware of the tremendous work done by ONE. There has for some time been a major housing centre in Dublin in which some 550 former soldiers - veterans – have been housed. There are also units in Athlone and Letterkenny, and there is a new drop-in centre in Limerick. It costs Mr. Ollie O'Connor, the chief executive, and his staff approximately €600,000 per annum to run the services for our veterans. Given the tremendous service they have given to the State and the United Nations, in Lebanon and many other theatres, maximum support must be provided. In this regard, the Minister said €40,000 was allocated by the Government.
Does the Minister consider it a key priority of his tenure to move forward with the provision of supports for veterans in terms of housing, education, health and sport and cultural issues? Every Member of this House is aware of the contribution these people have made to our country. Some of us have made representations on behalf of former soldiers with profound housing needs. A group of former Defence Forces personnel recently came together to establish a new veterans association, including a former colleague of ours in this building who was charged with our protection for many years. In the United States, the Veterans Association has done fantastic work over many years in the areas of education, housing and so on. There is a great deal more to be done in this State. Will the Minister return to Cabinet with a stronger case for the provision of support to the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women? My colleague, Deputy Willie Penrose, has raised this issue with the Minister on several occasions. The State must provide support to these people, particularly in the area of housing and education.
The bottom line is that this country is faced with substantial constrictions on its resources. There is no point in my pretending otherwise. I am obliged to fight my battle in Cabinet to ensure we have sufficient funding to maintain all of the Defence Forces' capabilities and meet our financial obligations to former members of the Defence Forces in regard to pensions, which are very substantial in the context of where we now stand. I was very pleased that we were able to maintain our support for ONE this year, as we did last year, and it is my intention that this support will continue. I am not in a position, however, to tell the Deputy that additional supports will be forthcoming. I would have to ask him to identify how the resources can be found to do so.
I identified those resources some weeks ago, but the Minister's party was not interested.
I am happy to hear the Deputy's proposals.
In regard to some of the services to which he referred, including housing, social welfare supports and a range of health services, it is important to note that they are provided by other Departments and other agencies. They could not and never have been replicated by the Department of Defence. I assure the Deputy, however, that ONE will continue to be supported. I greatly value and appreciate the work it has done in assisting individuals who have served with distinction in our Defence Forces, some of whom have since fallen on hard times.
Apart from ONE, there are several other organisations offering support to veterans. In fact, it seems that a new one is posited at least once a year. It simply is not possible for the Department to provide funding to all of them. It is certainly my intention, however, that funding for those organisations currently in receipt of it will continue.
As Deputy Tommy Broughan observed, one of the veteran housing units is located in Letterkenny, in my constituency, and I have seen the excellent service it provides. Representatives of ONE will, on the invitation of Deputy Willie Penrose, be in Leinster House next week to make a presentation. This will provide an opportunity to Deputies and Senators to learn about the services the organisation provides. Deputy Broughan says he has identified sources of funding that could support this work. Our party will keep the issue in mind in devising the alternative budget we intend to bring forward in the coming weeks. I ask the Minister to look at both sets of proposals in order to ascertain whether there is scope for additional funding for this body.
As I said, I greatly value the work done by ONE and similar organisations. I assure the Deputy that if I had some spare cash somewhere, I would happily provide additional supports. I cannot, however, make that type of commitment in the context of our overall expenditure position and the obligation on the State to spend €3.5 billion less in 2013 than we have spent in 2012. It is not open to any Minister to suggest there is an additional pot of money, and it would be irresponsible and misleading of me to do so. I am very anxious that we maintain existing supports to this organisation and I am very happy to hear anything it has to say to Members of this House. Nevertheless, it is vital that I do not mislead people in the very difficult financial and fiscal circumstances in which we find ourselves.
