Vol. 503 No. 2
8 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Defence the resources which will be provided to the Naval Service to carry out its tasks of fishery protection and patrolling effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9242/99]
115 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the resources which will be provided to the Naval Service to carry out its tasks of fishery protection and patrolling effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9307/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 115 together.
The main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed at all areas of Irish waters as necessary. Fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial surveillance by the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. Other tasks carried out by the Naval Service include search and rescue operations, aid to the civil power, drugs interdiction at sea, salmon fishery patrols and assistance with oil pollution control at sea.
The strength of the Naval Service is kept under constant review in the light of operational requirements. I propose to maintain a policy of continuous recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force and in this regard a recruitment campaign for over 500 general service recruits has just been launched. The first intake of 275 recruits, of which approximately 65 will be allocated to the Naval Service, will be enlisted in the near future. Seventeen apprentices are also being recruited and a competition for the recruitment of 14 cadets into the Naval Service will be advertised by my Department shortly.
The Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, four offshore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. A new fishery protection patrol vessel is currently under construction and is due to be delivered in September next.
The Government considered the Price Waterhouse reviews of the Air Corps and the Naval Service in the middle of last year. A planning and implementation process has been set in train to give effect to the Government's decision. I have asked the Chief of Staff in conjunction with the GOC of the Air Corps and the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service to submit implementation plans for my consideration to give effect to the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report. In parallel, and as part of the general White Paper process, I have asked for a submission from the Chief of Staff to address the long-term air and sea requirements of the State which would form the basis of the longer-term development of the Air Corps and Naval Service and which will be supported by the ongoing effectiveness and efficiency measures. I understand that a considerable amount of work has been done and I would expect to receive draft proposals for my consideration in the near future. These proposals will include, inter alia, organisation, personnel, infrastructure and options in relation to future equipment for both the Naval Service and the Air Corps.
Does the Minister consider the seven vessels the Naval Service has to patrol 132,000 square miles of water, 16 per cent of EU marine territory, adequate in number? What plans has he made to ensure there is adequate protection in our seas to deal with fishery protection, to interrupt possible drug importation and to monitor what is happening in our seas at an environmental level?
It is fair to say that in the past we were not as conscious of the need to protect the sea. It is also true that our resources can be stretched to meet a mix of commitments. We are upgrading and refurbishing the existing fleet; the new ship will be ready in September.
I indicated to the House previously that I would like to move on to the next stage, the ongoing programme for acquisition of new ships. That will also alleviate the problem when a number of vessels of the existing fleet come to the end of their life span. Unless plans have been made in advance, when that happens there will be significant problems.
The Naval Service is committed to the recruitment programmes, notwithstanding the fact that in the present economic climate a number of technical people have left for other posts. We will continue to work on that front. When the implementation plan is in place, I will establish an exercise which will enhance those numbers over time. It will not be done over night and there are other competing considerations for the resources available.
What percentage of technical staff is leaving the Naval Service? What initiatives has the Minister put in place to encourage such important people to remain in the Naval Service? Is he happy to see such a haemorrhage continue unchallenged?
The total number recruited to the Naval Service last year was 80 and a slightly higher number retired or took up alternative positions. My recollection is that about 30 per cent of those people were in technical grades and that causes a strain on our engineering and technical resources. We must make sure that pay, conditions and allowances are attractive. That is why last year I made sure that special recognition was given to the day allowance for people in the Naval Service.
The other matter is more complex. In the IT and engineering fields we have developed great expertise which is valuable to other industries and services.
And to us.
It is a headache. There is no point in looking at problems as disasters. We must look at them as opportunities and ask what we can do. We will do all we can.
What will that be?
The constant recruitment drive is one part of it. Other parts are conditions at work, the promotional opportunities and other things which must be improved.
Is the Minister aware the Naval Service received an invitation to participate in Baltops, which would give training in effective patrolling? Does he believe the Naval Service would benefit from Baltops and that the invitation should be accepted?
I am aware of the invitation, which is being considered in the Department of Foreign Affairs and in the Department of Defence. A decision has not been taken on it.
When does the Minister expect that decision to be taken?
That is not related to this question.
It is related. It is a question about effective patrolling.
We cannot pursue that matter now.
Is the Minister committed to the future of the Navy as a multi-tasked agency? Does he envisage it providing coastguard duties in the future? What steps has he taken to devolve authority to the flag officer commanding the Navy so that decisions can be taken within the Navy rather than in the centralised way that operates at present? Is he planning to arrange for its headquarters to be moved to Haulbowline and, if so, when is this likely to happen?
Delegation and the granting of autonomy to the different arms of the Defence Forces is strongly recommended in the Price Waterhouse review. Approximately 65 per cent of the non-pay area of the Defence Forces has been delegated. In regard to the review and the implementation plan, the same practice will continue in the Navy. I have no doubt that exercise will work to the fullest extent possible.
The decision to base the headquarters at Haulbowline was a key proposal in the Price Waterhouse review and it is an important element of good management practice, which I strongly support. I want to indicate my commitment to the Navy by making sure the programme and future plans proceed at full pace.
I am surprised the Deputy asked if I am committed to the future of the Navy. I work 24 hours a day for these people. As long as I can, I will continue to improve matters. I have done that by investing in infrastructure and equipment. All the Deputy needs to do is take account of the scale of investment in the Navy and Air Corps over the last four years. A total of £10 million was invested four years ago, £15 million three years ago, £27 million two years ago and then there are the figures of £30 million and £37 million. That graph has climbed upwards and I intend to ensure it continues to do so. The best sign of my commitment to the Navy is to put my money where my mouth is.
I was referring to the division of responsibilities between the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Defence. Is the Minister committed to the Navy being the agency that will carry out the multi-tasks in terms of fishery protection and a coastguard service? If it is to do that, it will require investment in a greater variety of fleet.
I am sorry if I misunderstood the question. I am committed to that kind of develop ment. We cannot allow every agency to have responsibility for everything. There is room for co-operation. We have a multi-tasked and multi-faceted service. A number of functions can be carried out in tandem which will involve virtually no additional cost. In regard to the review and the implementation phase, we must make sure the efficiencies and effectiveness of that are such that we can compete with anyone who is anxious to promote an alternative view. We must ensure we use the resources we have to best effect.
Does the Minister believe Baltops would be beneficial to the Navy in terms of effective patrolling? When can we expect a decision on this?
The Deputy can expect a decision on that very soon. I will give my views where they count in the first instance and, when a decision has been taken, I will make them publicly known.
Does the Minister consider it would be of benefit?
That is the same question.
It is not.
What methodology is used to recruit for the Navy? Does the Department communicate with personnel in the vocational education system in relation to careers at sea and is that used as a base for recruitment to the Navy?
I am pleased Deputy Wall made that point. We made many mistakes in the past by spending a good deal of money advertising nationally when recruitment programmes should have been targeted at schools. Videos should be shown in schools and students should hear the experiences of those who have lived at sea. This would encourage the small proportion of people who have an interest in pursuing a career at sea. It is important to home in on them. We have worked with the schools in the past few years. They are the best indication of where new recruits will come from. We will concentrate virtually exclusively on the second level sector.
Given the Minister's acknowledgement of the hemorrhage of personnel, especially technical personnel, from the Naval Service, has he plans to carry out an independent assessment of morale in the service? Does he consider that would be useful? Does he agree a lack of morale might be a factor in the hemorrhage of Naval personnel?
I do not honestly think so. I meet all these people occasionally. I saw them carrying out a number of exercises
When the Minister visits, they are on show.
I have been to Haulbowline on a number of occasions and it is a very upbeat place. The Deputy probably had an opportunity to see the new galley on which we spent £2 million. It is a beautiful spot where one can look out at the sea. If one were dining there every morning and evening, one's morale could not but be high. It is a good place to be. Having regard to competition from the private commercial sector in the recruitment of people with special expertise, we have to continually consider other options to retain the type of leadership potential so necessary for the future. Many Deputies speak of the morale in the service, but when I meet the personnel I find them very upbeat. That is not to say there are not problems. A review and talk of change creates a certain amount of pressure. It is important that we proceed with the implementation phase fairly quickly. Personnel have seen a new ship being built and more investment in their infrastructure and facilities. There is a limit to what we can do, but personnel is an important area that requires constant attention and the introduction of new innovative proposals.
I urge the Minister to consider the request for the Navy to participate in this exercise in a positive light. Will he agree such training can be of benefit only to our Naval personnel?
International experience and testing the waters in that way generally tends to be beneficial. I will not give a specific answer because we have to deal with this matter at another forum first. I will speak about it in the House the next time I have the opportunity to do so.
