asked the Minister for Defence the weekly working roster of an Irish soldier in Cyprus; what terms of leave are allowed; and whether these terms compare favourably with those of other contingents in Cyprus.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Troops in Cyprus.
8.
There is no fixed weekly working roster for an Irish soldier serving with the United Nations Force in Cyprus. Local circumstances at any particular time dictate the duty conditions of personnel serving there.
The annual leave regulations prescribed in Defence Force Regulations apply to military personnel whether serving at home or in Cyprus. Leave granted in Cyprus is, however, on the recommendation of the United Nations Command, normally limited to a maximum of seven days in each period of three months and such leave is not normally granted to an individual until he has served at least six weeks in Cyprus.
Other UN military personnel in Cyprus are subject to their own national leave regulations and to the same United Nations Command recommendation regarding the grant of leave as the Irish troops are. I have no information on the national leave regulations of personnel of other contingents serving in Cyprus.
Is the Minister aware that there is an impression abroad that Irish troops in Cyprus have to work longer hours than other contingents, and will he enlighten me on that aspect of the question?
I have no information on that aspect of the question.
Is the Minister serious? Are you in charge of this army? You have no information?
Our contingent is under the command of the local military authorities.
The Deputy should address the Chair, not the Minister.
I have no information about what happens in other contingents. The Deputy wanted to know what were the conditions relating to the Irish troops serving in Cyprus. I have no specific information as to what happens with the other contingents so far as leave is concerned.
Not necessarily leave. The question asked about work. Has the Minister any details about that?
The officer in charge of troops serving in any country where they are deemed to be on active service is the man responsible, and the conditions that obtain on active service are primarily a matter for the officer in command.
Does the Minister not know how long our troops have to serve?
I have given the leave regulations. They are laid down.
The Minister misunderstands me. I did not ask about leave, but about weekly work.
What does the Deputy mean by work? I want to know exactly what is meant by the term "work"?
Surely the Minister is leaving the House under a misapprehension? It cannot be true that the Irish Minister for Defence is disinterested in the question as to whether a Swedish soldier is called upon by the United Nations commander in Cyprus to serve a six-hour day, if — I am not by any means asserting this to be true — an Irish soldier is asked by the same United Nations commander to work a 12-hour day. I do not know what the facts are, but surely the Minister would have an interest, and a legitimate interest, to see that the United Nations commander in Cyprus treated all the troops under his command on the basis of equality?
All the troops in Cyprus, all the troops of all nations contributing there, are under the United Nations commander, and local circumstances — and by "local circumstances", I mean the circumstances in the districts in which troops are stationed — determine the working conditions of the troops in that particular local area. When you hand over responsibility to the local commander, you have to give him authority to determine when the troops are needed on duty and when they can be given leave.
Is the Minister satisfied that our troops are being treated properly?
I am satisfied that our troops——
Will the Minister make inquiries?
I am satisfied from inquiries I have made that our troops are being treated properly.
(Cavan): Will the Minister take steps to see that they are not treated less favourably than other nationals in the areas in which they serve?