Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 8

Written Answers. - Price Waterhouse Proposals.

Seán Haughey

Question:

231 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Defence the proposals of the Price Waterhouse efficiency audit group in relation to the Defence Forces and, in particular, the Army School of Music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5817/95]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

234 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the qualification, if any, of the persons who compiled the Price Waterhouse report which proposed cuts in the Army School of Music. [5897/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. H. Coveney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 234 together.

The consultants referred to were engaged by the Efficiency Audit Group to conduct the detailed work of the review of the Defence Forces. They prepared a confidential report for the EAG. To ensure that the consultants had the necessary expertise, senior officers of the Defence Forces were involved at every stage of the selection process. The selected firm, Price Waterhouse, provided a team which included Major General Lewis Makenzie, the ex-UN commander in the former Yugoslavia, and other Canadian military experts.

The Canadian military team was accepted by the Irish military authorities as having the necessary and appropriate military competence to conduct the review. The Efficiency Audit Group also had the services of a separate military adviser, a recently retired New Zealand Air Vice Marshal of international repute.

No decisions have been taken on the report of the Efficiency Audit Group in relation to the Army School of Music, or indeed any other unit of the Defence Forces. The important role of the military bands in the life of the Defence Forces is well known. In any reorganisation arising from the EAG review, the contribution of the Army School of Music will be fully borne in mind.

As I have already informed the House, I am consulting with all interested parties, including the military authorities and the associations representing military personnel, before any decisions are taken.