Vol. 446 No. 4
15 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach the total amount paid to date to consultants engaged by the Efficiency Audit Group to carry out a review of the Defence Forces; if the group has yet received a report; if it has been passed on to his Department; the plans, if any, there are to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [533/94]
16 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach when he will publish the report of the review of the Defence Forces commissioned by him through the Efficiency Audit Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1531/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
Price Waterhouse Management Consultants were engaged by the Efficiency Audit Group to carry out a review of the Defence Forces and to make recommendations for change. Their report was submitted to the EAG in July 1994 and the total fee of £259,000 in respect of the review has now been paid.
The report prepared by Price Waterhouse is at present being considered by the Efficiency Audit Group who will in turn report to the Taoiseach. As I indicated on 10 February 1994, while it may not be appropriate to publish the entire report of the EAG when it is received, the Government will seek to make as much information as possible available to the House.
I believe it is clear that there is an unquestioned need to reform the Defence Forces. The Government is publicly committed to a positive and constructive programme of reform focused on providing the Defence Forces with the resources to carry out efficiently and effectively the tasks entrusted to them. The changes required will be decided on by Government, when it receives the Efficiency Audit Group's recommendations, as part of a long term plan and will be implemented at a realistic pace.
I take it that means they will not be implemented before 10 November.
That must be a red letter day in the Deputy's calendar.
Yes.
It is also an important day for the Taoiseach. Does he remember what happened his predecessor?
It will be an important day for the Taoiseach and his colleague beside him. However, I do not wish to waste the few minutes we have left in idle chit chat with the Taoiseach. When will the Government have the recommendations from the EAG? Will the Minister indicate whether the reports which have been leaked to the newspapers on the closure of barracks and the reduction of the armed forces by about 20 per cent are accurate?
It is expected that the EAG report will be available before the end of the year. As the EAG has not yet reported or made recommendations it is not true to say there are recommendations before the Government about the closure of barracks or about laying off 3,000 members of the Defence Forces.
I join the Minister in condemning the leaking of official documentation before PDFORRA or RACO were consulted. Will the Minister indicate that well in advance of the report being finalised and a decision taken, there will be consultation with PDFORRA, RACO and another important group that has not been mentioned, the trade unions, who represent many civilian employees in barracks and military establishments? I agree that a report on the Defence Forces, which have been neglected for many years, is long overdue. I am sure the Minister will agree this matter should be tackled in a more positive way rather than by way of leakage to the national media.
I could not agree more with the Deputy. The leaking of selected extracts from the report was not for the benefit of the Defence Forces. It has made the task of the Efficiency Audit Group more difficult in that it has been continually stated that the recommendation is before Government, but that is not the case. Once the EAG has made its report available to the Government and the Government has made decisions on the recommendations, full consultation will take place with the various associations, trade unions and the military authorities, as appropriate.
I know from my discussions with officers and men that the leaks damaged morale in the Defence Forces. I condemn the leaking of the document which is very unfair to the Defence Forces who are dedicated and committed to their work. In the informal talks that took place everybody accepted the need for change and reform of the Defence Forces. In the next three or four weeks I intend to continue those talks on a slightly more formal basis. I accept there is concern that the report will be decided by the Government and implemented without proper consultation. I take this opportunity to assure Members of the House and military personnel that this will not happen and there will be full consultation.
Deputy Rabbitte rose.
I am sorry, Deputy but it is imperative that we now proceed to deal with priority questions in accordance with the Standing Orders of this House.
Very briefly.
Question No. 21, please. Twenty minutes only are available for priority questions.
