asked the Minister for Defence if there are any plans for the creation of a separate organisation for the Naval Service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Service.
10.
The organisation and establishments of the Naval Service are under review in the context of the expanded role of the service in fishery protection duty. It may be taken that the basic position of the service as a component of the permanent defence force will remain.
Having regard to the present organisation of the Naval Service which comprises only 582 officers and men and since the whole question of the general surveillance of the protection of offshore installations such as oil rigs as well as such matters as continental shelf resources, search and rescue, pollution measures and fishery protection are now involved, is it not both necessary and desirable to have a separate organisation on an expanding basis to cater for these operations? Would the Minister ensure that this matter be examined fully?
I do not agree that there should be a separate organisation but, as I informed the Deputy, the organisation and establishments of the Naval Service are under review and if he has any representations or suggestions to make in that connection, I should be glad to receive them and would assure him that they would be considered.
Is the question of organisation and establishments under review with a view to the creation of a separate organisation or is the review merely an internal one dealing with the operation of the Naval Service?
Consideration is not being given to the setting up of a separate organisation but the question of the expanding role of the navy in connection with fishery protection is being reviewed.
One of the secondary roles of the navy is that of fishery protection but would the Minister not agree that some of the references recently to this question would indicate that fishery protection has become the primary role of the navy? Is it the intention that this be the situation for the future?
All the functions of the Naval Service are highly important. There is no one function more important than another. The services rendered by the navy are well-known and distinguished.
I shall allow Deputy Dowling another supplementary.
Regarding the expanded duties that I have enumerated, would the Minister accept that a complement of 582 personnel is not sufficient to cope with this workload? What action is being taken to increase the strength of the navy to a realistic level?
I would remind the Deputy that on the 31st March, 1973, the total personnel—all ranks— of the Naval Service was 402 while on the 28th February, 1977, the number was 582. It might be no harm for the Deputy to add to his statistics the information that this is an increase of 180 since Fianna Fáil left office.
Would the Minister not appreciate——
Order. I have allowed the Deputy some latitude on this question.
——that——
The Deputy must learn to obey the Chair first.
Perhaps I may ask a final supplementary. The Minister retained his statistics until the last moment but would he not agree that along with the increase in personnel there has been an increase in duties? Surely the Minister realises the difference between a 50-mile limit and a three-mile limit? The increase in personnel is not proportionate to the increase in duties.
I have assured the Deputy that the expanded role of the Naval Service is under review.
I am calling question No. 11.
11.
asked the Minister for Defence the up-to-date position and the tonnage, type and previous duties in relation to the vessels he proposes to purchase or lease for (a) fishery protection (b) general surveillance (c) environmental protection (d) hydrographic service (e) continental shelf resources (f) transportation and (g) diving; and the additional aircraft which will be purchased or leased to supplement the naval craft.
Since my reply on 10th March 1977 to the Deputy's Question No. 11, chartering arrangements were completed in respect of the stern trawler since renamed L.E. Ferdia and the aircraft referred to in the reply. As the Deputy is aware, a new all weather fishery protection vessel is due to be delivered in November or December this year and it is proposed to acquire a further such vessel for delivery in 1978 or early 1979.
Particulars of the three vessels mentioned are:—
|
Tonnage |
Type |
Previous Duties |
|
|
L.E. “Ferdia” |
651 |
Stern Trawler |
Survey work |
|
New all-weather fishery protection vessel |
1,000 |
Patrol Vessel |
New |
|
Further such vessel |
1,200 |
do. |
do. |
The acquisition of additional vessels and aircraft is being considered.
Could the Minister tell us if the L.E. Ferdia has broken down since it was purchased and if it is the intention of the Department to scour the scrapyards of Europe for further vessels as they appear to have done on this occasion? Would the Minister assure the House that adequate fishery protection vessels of the type necessary or desirable to cope with the problems and demands of the service are obtained, not scrap vessels such as the one that has been obtained and which is 20 years out of date?
I can assure the Deputy that his allegation is not only untrue but disgraceful and scandalous.
Did it break down on any occasion since it was purchased?
That is a separate question.
Yes, there were minor difficulties on the occasion of its arrival. These were put in order and there is now no problem nor is there likely to be any problem. I am satisfied that the L.E. Ferdia is in very good condition and to describe it as coming from the scrap heap ill becomes the Deputy and shows complete disregard for the interest he personally has in fishery protection.
Is this vessel, in fact, 20 years out of date? I assure the Minister I am more concerned than he appears, or the Government appear to be about fishery protection. I want to see proper vessels obtained for the Naval Service so that justice will be done to this very important service that has been overlooked, perhaps, by different Governments for far too long.
12.
asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the shortage of naval personnel, he will consider offering shore-based appointments to suitably qualified army personnel of all ranks.
In accordance with Defence Force Regulations, Army personnel may be attached to the Naval Service as required. At present fifteen such persons, the majority of whom have specialist skills, are so attached. In addition, there is provision in regulations for the transfer to the Naval Service of personnel who originally enlisted in the Army and who subsequently opted for the Naval Service.
In view of the fact that there is a shortage of personnel in the Naval Service and that the service at its present strength is incapable of performing its duties effectively, will the Minister try to find out if there are still personnel in the Defences Forces who would like to offer themselves for shore-based appointments and have the necessary qualifications, as I am sure there are?
The Deputy should be aware that Army personnel attached to the Naval Service comprise members of the Ordnance, Medical, Supply and Transport, Signals and Military Police Corps. The following are the members of Army personnel who transferred to the Naval Service in the past three years: 1974, 11; 1975, 5; 1976, 13. I can assure the Deputy that proposals to increase the establishment in respect of the Naval Service are under consideration. The strength of the Naval Service on 31st March, 1973 was only 402, not a figure with which the Deputy can be greatly pleased.
I thank the Minister for the information. In view of the fact that members have been transferred from one section of the Defence Forces to another in order to bolster up the Minister's figures is the Minister satisfied that there are not more skilled personnel in the Defence Forces capable of relieving naval personnel who are doing shore duties in orderly rooms, stores and elsewhere and who could be diverted to duties proper to naval personnel? Could not this further strengthen the effectiveness of the Naval Service?
I can assure the Deputy that any applications made for transfer from the Army to the Naval Service will be considered on their merits having regard to the qualifications of the applicants and their desire to be transferred.
Will their posts be filled in the permanent Defence Forces?
Question No. 13.