Vol. 509 No. 4
71 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has recently withdrawn mobile phones issued to Departmental personnel; if so, the reason for the withdrawal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20450/99]
In view of the nature of much of the work of the Department, certain staff may need to be contacted on a 24 hour basis anywhere in the country and, from time to time, abroad. Those staff are issued with mobile phones and it is Department policy that these phones are the best available in terms of reception and capacity. Because of this, and as mobile technology advances, it is the Department's practice to review the position and issue new phones as necessary. Against this background, my Department recently completed an upgrade programme which involved the issue of new phones to staff.
