Vol. 411 No. 8
2 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence whether he plans to initiate or publish a Green Paper on (a) the role, (b) function, (c) activities and (d) UN and NATO obligations or potential obligations of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The roles, functions and activities of the Defence Forces are already well established. For many years past, their main preoccupations have been aid to the civil power; fishery surveillance and protection; search and rescue, and UN peace-keeping. A major study is at present under way in relation to the establishment, numbers and deployment of the Defence Forces.
Aid provided to the civil power consists mainly of assistance to the Garda Síochána in the Border area and military escorts for cash in transit and civilian prisoners.
As regards UN peace-keeping, 832 military personnel are currently serving in ten missions in a total of 18 countries, mainly in Lebanon. Service with UN missions is covered by the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960.
Ireland is not a member of NATO and does not propose to join that organisation. As has frequently been stated in this House, if, in the fullness of time, the European Community were to develop its own defence arrangements, we in Ireland would certainly consider participation. This has been the position of successive Irish Governments.
As a member state of the European Community, we are already committed to the co-ordination of foreign policy provided for in European Political Co-operation. Under the terms of the Single European Act, which were endorsed by referendum here in 1987, this co-ordination now extends to the political and the economic but not to the military aspects of security.
That is a rather piecemeal approach to a much wider problem. Is the Minister aware of the developments taking place in America, the USSR and European countries in regard to the role and reform of defence forces? The Gleeson Commission stated they were presented with an agenda of issues which had accumulated over 60 years and will the Minister accept that he has a duty to define the function and role of the Defence Forces from now into the next century?
I do not think in the time available to us we could go into the role and function of the Defence Forces. There is no question that we are going through a period of major change in relation to policy matters and defence policy inside and outside the Community. These are dealt with by the Department of Foreign Affairs. In relation to the overall role of the Defence Forces in the future, a number of very important reports have been published some of which are the subject of questions which we will deal with later. There will be no delay in facing up to the rapidly changing circumstances, political and otherwise, as far as the Department of Defence are concerned. I will certainly be keeping abreast of developments and will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that we have a Defence Force capable of responding in positive and speedy fashions to the demands made on it.
I wish to refer once again to the Gleeson report, which states that military and civil management are no doubt alert to——
I am sorry, I must dissuade the Deputy from quoting.
I want to refer to the problems identified by the Gleeson report, which stated that they had accumulated over 60 years and that the Department were aware of the shortcomings. The report also stated that an emphasis for pressure for a change needed to come from outside the Defence Forces. Given international developments, it is up to the Minister and the House to push for that change. In the interest of an overall efficient service the piecemeal approach and the reviews are totally unacceptable.
The Deputy is making a speech, not asking a supplementary question.
Notwithstanding the Minister's line in relation to this, will he give consideration to the provisions of the Green Paper, which is a document to enable people to participate in the whole discussion?
With regard to the Defence Forces we have two very important documents — one is the Gleeson Commission report, which outlined 170 recommendations dealing with various aspects of the forces. We are working steadily towards the implementation of those recommendations and at present something like 75 per cent of them have been almost totally implemented. We also have the efficiency audit group report, the subject of other questions, which gives a mandate and role for the future development of the Defence Forces generally. There is no shortage of documentation and I do not know whether a Green Paper, a White Paper, or whatever the Deputy has in mind, would add to the debate.
