Vol. 462 No. 6
7 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether it is wise to proceed with the implementation of the Price Waterhouse report concerning the Defences Forces in view of the current situation and possibly more serious situations in the future. [5156/96]
The review of the Defence Forces on which the current reorganisation is based pre-dates the cease fires and has as its objective an increase in the number of troops available for operational duties.
At yesterday's Cabinet meeting the Government approved the implementation plan which includes a voluntary early retirement scheme and it is important to emphasise that the military authorities are in full agreement with this plan. While I fully understand the fears implicit in the Deputy's question I assure him that a core feature of the plan is to make more troops available for operational duties.
I thank the Minister for his reply. When raising this question I had in mind the serious political changes, which the Minister mentioned, in the past couple of weeks. I would like an assurance that the military would be available if the situation were to deteriorate. When will the recommendations of this report, which was published yesterday, be implemented? When will officers and men be made aware of its contents? Will the increase in wages mentioned for June be included?
I assure the House I am conscious of the need to ensure that our Defence Forces are capable of defending the State. I have discussed this matter on an ongoing basis with the Chief of Staff and nothing will be done which will undermine the ability of the Defence Forces to carry out the valuable work they have always done when called on. I assure the Deputy that nothing will be done to reduce the number of troops available for Border duty or otherwise in this reorganisation plan.
The report to which the Deputy referred was published as a result of yesterday's Cabinet decision and it will allow for ongoing discussions with the representative associations at officer, NCO and private level. I am anxious that the military authorities and members of the Defence Forces will have ownership of this plan, that things will not be imposed on professional people who are more qualified than I and, I suggest, anybody in this House and that they may advise us on the most efficient structures to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their important duties.
Discussions will begin with the representative associations on the mechanism for dealing with applications received from those who wish to avail of the voluntary early retirement scheme. We hope to agree with the representative associations a structure for dealing with applications and for prioritising who should go first and so on. Much work needs to be done in terms of discussions and co-operation with the military authorities and the representative associations. I am happy that by May we should be in a position to begin payments to those who have applied under the scheme.
Will those payments include the increase in wages from 1 June? I congratulate the Minister for having the courage to put a package to the Cabinet which will ensure people have an opportunity to opt out if they so wish. In promoting a recruitment campaign perhaps it would be possible to reduce the average age of Army personnel to that in other European countries.
I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks. It is not an easy job to carry out a restructuring of the Defence Forces. It would be much easier to stand back and do nothing, but I like to get on with the job. I am very pleased to have received co-operation from colleagues in the House who recognise that the exercise is a very important part of bringing the Defence Forces structures into the 21st century. I sincerely hope it will result in more efficient and effective Defence Forces, that the job will be more satisfying and rewarding for those serving in the Defence Forces and that they will have an opportunity to seek promotion and to work within modern structures.
I was not aware the Deputy was going to raise the issue of salary increases because it is not part of the question. I imagine that people will get the increases to which they are entitled, but I do not want to give information that may be incorrect. I will look into the matter and report back to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Will the report be circulated to the House? Has the Minister plans to purchase new equipment for the, Army?
I will arrange to have the report made available to Members.
That should have been done today. It is available to the media.
I am not certain about that but I will double check it. My door is always open and if Deputies come to my office after Question Time I will give them the report.
We appreciate that very much.
This is like a mutual admiration society.
Part of the exercise will be to address the position where 80 per cent of the Defence Forces budget is spent on salaries and wages and only 20 per cent on equipment. The object of the implementation plan is to reduce the amount of money spent on wages and salaries to 70 per cent and increase the amount spent on equipment to 30 per cent. That will be done over a period of years as the plan is implemented.
