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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Reserve Defence Force Study.

David Stanton

Question:

4 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the reason it was necessary to set up a steering group to oversee the work of the military board conducting a study of the Reserve. [9443/99]

The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan, 1996-1998 – which was approved by Government in March 1996 – provides for a special study of the Reserve to be undertaken during the lifetime of the plan. Accordingly, in November 1997 I announced the setting up of a joint civilian-military steering group to carry out this examination. As part of the examination process the Chief of Staff had already established a military board to conduct a study of the Reserve. In addition, a considerable amount of work had already been undertaken by earlier military boards set up to seek the views of the membership on the future organisation and structure of the Reserve.

In view of the need to undertake an indepth and wide-ranging study or review of the Reserve Defence Force and to ensure all aspects of the Reserve were comprehended by the study I considered it desirable that l should set up a broadly-based steering group to oversee and guide the military board in its study. Accordingly, the steering group, as part of its function, oversees and guides the military board in its task. The membership of the steering group comprises an independent chairman, three senior military officers, three senior civil servants from my Department and a serving officer of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil. No member of the steering group is a member of the military board.

From the outset there has been ongoing liaison between the steering group and the military board and meetings of the steering group are attended in part by either the chairman or the secretary of the military board who keep the group well briefed on the board's progress. The group also advises the military board regarding aspects of the Reserve that should be examined or that should be examined in greater depth by the board.

The steering group met each of the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, who made presentations to the group regarding their areas of concern, and on three occasions it met the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, which also made presentations to it.

As the military board study is nearing completion it is anticipated that the board will be in a position to submit its final report shortly. The steering group, which will have regard to the military board's report, will submit its final report to me as soon as possible thereafter.

Is it not strange that the Chief of Staff set up a board in November 1997 and the Minister set up a similar group a few weeks later? There is a lot of duplication with both groups, broadly speaking, carrying out the same function. When will we see the steering group's final report? Has the Minister any idea of the timescale, will it be three months, six months, this year or next year?

It is extremely difficult to win. If we only had a military board examining the Reserve, I am sure Deputy Stanton would say it was incestuous. To ensure the most comprehensive examination, we used a military board, which has existed for years and examined various matters, and a steering group. We hope to have a better, more comprehensive and fairer result from that process, from everyone's viewpoint. I expect the final report soon and will be disappointed if we are not dealing conclusively with it within the next three months.

The Minister seems to indicate that one of his areas of responsibility – namely, the military – did not keep the Department informed of what it was doing and, as a result, two groups were set up within months of each other. This begs the question of why this was so, and I am not happy with the answer. The groups should have been set up in tandem if there had been co-ordination. It is obvious the Minister's group was set up to keep an eye on the other group. Has the Minister plans to announce initiatives pertaining to the Reserve in the near future and has he booked venues for that purpose?

Some venues may be booked for normal Defence Forces activities over the next year. The economy is doing so well that we have to plan in advance for accommodation, and the Deputy should be grateful that is the case. As far as initiatives are concerned, I will await the report. I want to be a good friend of the Reserve and from my background I have a deep appreciation of its members' voluntary commitment and its importance to many parts of the country. My decision to establish the steering group was a fair-minded one. The groups were not set up in tandem because I took up this job in October 1997 and I moved quickly to take this action. It is not a question of one body looking at another, that is the way things are often done in the military. That happened in the other reviews also.

Are some of the venues mentioned by the Minister in his constituency? Does he agree it is important to have a strong Reserve, given the dreadful events in Europe? As the Government has adopted the Fine Gael policy on Partnership for Peace, we need to be able to play our part in that body and a strong Reserve will be vital for that, given the humanitarian emergency unfolding.

The importance of the Reserve does not have to be underlined. At least one event will take place in my constituency. I am fortunate to live in the centre of the country, which is geographically suitable for people living in Cork, Dublin and to the north and west. Travel distances would be reduced by holding events in the centre of the country.

Does the Minister agree the FCA has been the poor relation through the years? In the first two years of training, 64 per cent of FCA personnel leave. There are a number of reasons for this – it takes 12 months for an FCA member to be issued with a combat uniform, 18 months before he or she is issued with what is called service dress No. 1, and there are only ten sets of wet gear to every 40 or 50 FCA members. I do not blame the Minister for this, but will he give a commitment, irrespective of whether this is mentioned in the study of the Reserve, that small administrative matters like these will be addressed?

That was partly the position in the past. There has been a radical improvement under all Administrations in recent years to ensure equipment, clothing needs and matters of that kind are addressed. I am taking on board the out standing issues. None of these matters should have to await the outcome of the review. Of the approximately £23 million spent per year on the Reserve, £17 million goes on pay. While that is not a tiny figure, there is scope for improvement. Issues in respect of accommodation, equipment and clothing needs will not have to await the outcome of the review.

In the event that Ireland developed a common foreign and security policy in Europe and adopted a similar approach to other countries, could the FCA become the vehicle for a national service?

I had no idea we had a proposal of that kind before us.

Most other countries are abandoning it.

It may be agreed policy, but it is not the policy here.

I am asking about the Government's policy.

The Deputy is behind the times.

In the event that Ireland developed a common foreign and security policy, does he foresee the FCA becoming the vehicle—

Thank you.

Does the £17 million which is spent on pay include pay for the members of Permanent Defence Force who carry out the training for the FCA?

As far as I know, yes.

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