Vol. 497 No. 2
106 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the title, role and composition of all task forces, review groups, advisory bodies and any other agencies operating under the aegis of his Department; the date of establishment of each body; and the reports, if any, published by each group in the past 12 months. [24880/98]
The following bodies are examining various matters that fall within my Department's remit:-
1. The Interdepartmental Group on the Defence and Security Environment.
Established as part of the preparation process for the White Paper on Defence, this group comprises representatives from the civil and military branches of my Department, from the Department of Foreign Affairs; Finance; Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána. For security reasons the detailed work of the group will not be published. However, the results of this study will form an input to the White Paper process.
Other work on the White Paper will be supported by ad hoc groups of civil and military officers which will generate the inputs to the White Paper in line with the developing consultative and management process. I propose to bring the White Paper to Government by summer 1999.
2. Following the recent Government decision on the reviews of the Air Corps and the Naval Service, a consultation group was established to provide a forum for the input of the key stake-holders in relation to the State air and sea services. There are two broad dimensions to the required planning work. The first relates to the strategic issues to be covered in the White Paper on Defence and the second to the effectiveness and efficiency measures recommended by Price Waterhouse Management Consultants. The consultation group, which I am chairing, comprises representatives from the civil and military branches of my Department, from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
3. The Steering Group for the Study of the Reserve. This group was set up earlier this year to oversee and direct the work of a military board which was reviewing the Reserve Defence Forces. The group has an independent chairman and is made up of senior civil and military officials of my Department and a serving FCA officer. It is due to report to me early next year.
4. The interdepartmental task force to report and make recommendations on the future management and development of the Curragh of Kildare. The Government acting on my advice, approved the appointment of this group in July 1998. In addition to both civil and military officials of my Department, the task force also has representatives from the Departments of Agriculture and Food, the Environment and Local Government, Finance, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Both Kildare County Council and the Midlands East Regional Tourism Authority are also represented. The task force held its first meeting in August and has been requested to report to me before the end of March 1999.
