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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 1

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Review.

Dick Spring

Question:

11 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to carry out rationalisation of manpower in the Defence Forces; and, if so, if he will give details thereof.

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

67 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Defence if the board of military personnel which was set up to examine the Defence Forces establishment figure have reported; and if so, if he will outline the recommendations, if any, which have been made by this group.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the extent to which the review of military establishments has been completed with particular reference to the possibility of identifying the Curragh, County Kildare as national military headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 67 and 120 together. I refer the Deputies to a reply to parliamentary questions in this regard on 31 October 1991.

An interim report has been furnished and this is under examination at present but for security reasons it would not be appropriate to publish details of the report. There are no plans at present to move the headquarters of the Defence Forces to a new location.

A military group was set up to review the establishment figure in the Army and they were to report some months ago. Does the Minister have details of that report? In view of the extra demands which will now be made on Army personnel particularly if members are sent to Yugoslavia — we have some in the Lebanon — can he see an opportunity arising for greater recruitment into the Army?

With regard to Yugoslavia the number of personnel will be very small. I think a joint Army/Garda force is envisaged but the military personnel numbers will be in single figures. As I mentioned in my reply an interim report has been furnished and is under examination. I am not publishing details of the report for the reasons I gave. I assure Deputy Durkan we have no plans to move the headquarters to County Kildare.

Will the Minister speed up the process? Is the Minister aware that the proposals in the report, which were leaked, given their implications for staff and households who may be required to move to other locations, are a source of grave concern? It is important that the report is dealt with as a matter of urgency and after full consultation with the staff concerned.

I cannot comment on the suggestion of leaks; I am not very good at the leaks business. The fact is we have received and are studying the interim report. As I have said to Deputy Taylor-Quinn, no precipitate action will be taken and there will be no lack of consideration for the people involved.

May I ask the Minister, in relation to Question No. 120, in view of what he said in regard to locating the military headquarters at the Curragh, if he will assure the House he has no plans not to locate the military headquarters at the Curragh? Having regard to the suitability of the wide plains of the Curragh, will he accept that that location has much to offer and would be seen in most countries as a suitable location for a military headquarters? Will he consider this possibility in the rationalisation programme which is taking place?

What is wrong with Parkgate Street?

It is not in my constituency.

It is strange that many intelligent and astute Members of this House, including Deputies Durkan and Dukes and Deputy McCreevy, are agreed on the importance of the Curragh and its suitability for all kinds of operations. ations.

I thought that.

With that amount of brain power applied to that proposition I must pause but we have decided that the headquarters will not be moved to the Curragh as of now.

Raise the white flag.

Will the Minister assure the House that there will be no diminution in the number of military personnel and establishment at the Curragh?

I am not aware of any proposal that there should be diminution.

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