Michael McDowell
Question:22 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Defence if the primary role of the Defence Forces is no longer the defence of the State against armed aggression. [5155/96]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces' Role.
In 1993 the Government decided that, given the changed international environment, an up-to-date statement of roles for the Defence Forces should be drawn up.
On 21 September 1993 the Government decided that the new roles of the Defence Forces should be: (1) to defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on ongoing Government assessment of threats; (2) to aid the civil power, meaning in practice to assist when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State; (3) to participate in international missions in the cause of peace; (4) to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union; and, (5) to carry out such other duties as may be assigned to them from time to time, for example, search and rescue, air ambulance service, ministerial air transport service, assistance on the occasion of natural disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services.
Last July the Government established an implementation group to draw up detailed plans in relation to the review of the Defence Forces and a major reform is now in train. Yesterday the Government announced certain decisions arising out of the report of the implementation group and a phased programme of reorganisation will now begin.
The revised statement of roles approved by the Government in 1993 places greater emphasis on the current operational tasks of the Defence Forces, including aid to the civil power, UN service, search and rescue and fishery protection, as distinct from "defence of the State against external aggression", formerly stated to be the primary role.
No one role is now given primacy over another and the thrust of the reorganisation process is to more closely align the structure and organisation of the Defence Forces with the tasks which they carry out on a day-to-day basis.
The strategic plan for a restructured Defence Forces allows for a flexibility to permit the organisation to meet all roles. All situations, including the international environment, are kept under constant review to ensure that the Defence Forces are in a position to carry out their assigned functions.