asked the Minister for Defence if there are any plans to change the role of (i) the Naval Service (ii) the Army and (ii) the Air Corps.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Role.
10.
While the position regarding the roles of the Defence Forces is kept under constant review, no basic change in role is contemplated at present. Changes in emphasis arise, however, from time to time to meet changing situations and the Deputy will, no doubt, be aware of recently announced developments including the creation of a Curragh Command, the expansion of the fishery protection role involving both the Naval Service and the Air Corps and the decision to make available again, if required, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with United Nations peace-keeping forces.
Is the Minister satisfied that an important aspect of the Continental Shelf Act was to establish that offences committed on installations on the Irish shelf were to be treated as if they had occurred in Ireland?
That is a completely separate question.
Is the Minister satisfied that, constitutionally, the territory of Ireland includes the territorial seas?
Yes.
Is the Minister satisfied that the Garda Síochána are the civil authorities within the territorial waters and Continental Shelf installations?
These are rather specific questions.
Of course, they are.
Do you think they should not be answered?
I am concerned that the matter is not directly related to Question No. 10.
Can the Minister indicate if there is no garda presence at sea, which can be aided, what is the situation in relation to Continental Shelf installations at the moment by a routine patrol vessel of the Irish Naval Service?
It is no harm to remind the Deputy as regards the Naval Service that the authorised establishment at the end of 1972 was 435 all ranks, that this was increased to 500 by the end of 1974 and again increased to 600 in April, 1977, and that a review is currently in hand. That is much more than ever was done by Fianna Fáil for the Naval Service.
Can the Minister indicate, seeing that he agrees with the constitutional position and that there is no garda presence at sea that can be aided, how can the Naval Service arrest a person who commits a crime on a Continental Shelf installation when they have no power to do so?
I have every confidence in the Naval Service to carry out their duties as they have done and as they are doing at the moment.
(Interruptions.)
A final question. We cannot debate this matter today.
Can the Minister indicate if the role of the Naval Service is about to be changed to ensure that they have the power of arrest on a Continental Shelf installation?
The Naval Service have their instructions and they have their personnel to carry out those instructions. I have every confidence in the Naval Service.
(Interruptions.)
Next question. Question No. 11.
This is an important question.
Deputy Dowling must not seek to dictate to the Chair.
Can the Minister now indicate to me——
I am calling the next question.
We can raise it later on if we do not raise it now. Perhaps the Minister could answer the last supplementary. In view of the fact that the Naval Service have no power of arrest, how can they carry out this particular duty without a change in their role?
The Naval Service have their instructions and they act in accordance with them. They do not act wrongly and, to my knowledge, to date they have not acted wrongly.
Apparently there is no point in asking supplementary questions.