Vol. 416 No. 1
19 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which the Defence Council have met during the past 12 months; if he will outline the role of the Defence Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
76 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline, (a) the number of times the Council of Defence, who are provided for under section 11 of the Defence Act, 1954, have been convened since 1 January 1991 and (b) the grade or rank of the recording secretary of that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 76 together.
The Council of Defence was established under the Defence Act, 1954, to aid and counsel the Minister on all matters in relation to the business of the Department of Defence on which he may consult the council.
The council comprise the Minister of State at the Department of Defence together with the senior civil and military officers of the Department. As the Minister for Defence has ready access individually and collectively to the persons who are members of the council the functions of the council are in practice exercised on a routine basis. Accordingly there has been no formal meeting of the council in recent times.
