Vol. 409 No. 10
23 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Defence the steps which will be taken or have been initiated by him to implement or respond to the recommendations of the Gleeson Commission that the dual administrative structure, involving the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence, be rationalised.
A strategic management committee comprising top level Civil Service and military personnel in my Department have been established.
The committee meet regularly and are concerned with the various non-pay recommendations in the Gleeson Commission report, including the recommendation on scope for greater integration of military and civil managements.
Many of the non-pay recommendations are quite complex relating as they do to matters connected with organisation, manpower and personnel policy and conditions of service.
Progress on all these matters is taking place, the time scale for implementation, however, depending on the complexity of the individual issue.
As the House will be aware, almost 60 per cent of the recommendations of the commission, the bulk of which relate to pay and allowances, are effective already.
This question is very specific, concerning the dual administrative structure. I did not hear the Minister reply to that part of the question. In view of the recommendations in the Gleeson report, will the Minister state specifically that it is intended to look at that aspect?
I will draw the Deputy's views to the attention of the strategic committee. This is a management committee comprised of top Civil Service and military personnel and I will ask them to examine this matter in particular.
This is one of the most central and important recommendations of the Gleeson report, highlighting the irritation on both sides caused by the fact that civil servants in the Department are watching administrators in the Defence Forces doing the same job. It is not acceptable for the Minister to respond by saying that 60 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented. The streamlining of the administration between the Department and the Defence Forces is one of the most important recommendations.
The Deputy should not feel that by stating that 60 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented I am placing less importance or emphasis on the other recommendations. They are equally important and must be examined and implemented where possible. A strategic management committee is in place who are examining the matter to see how improvements can be made and I will draw their attention to the points which have been raised and ensure that they are taken into account.
