Vol. 513 No. 4
122 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a final draft of the White Paper on defence to the Opposition spokespersons as provided by his Department to a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/00]
123 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the way in which security of his Department was breached to permit two copies of the White Paper on defence to be obtained by a newspaper (details supplied) on 27 January 2000; the investigation, if any, carried out on the leak of information; and the results of the investigation. [2796/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
I deplore the wholly unauthorised release of the draft of the White Paper on Defence to a newspaper. I understand that the military authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances in which confidential material relating to the White Paper was supplied to a number of newspapers.
The White Paper on Defence will be completed very shortly and I intend to bring forward my proposals immediately for consideration and approval by Government. Those proposals will address all aspects of the development of the Defence Forces including the overall defence policy framework, manpower, organisation, equipment and resourcing generally.
Allowing for the normal consultative process at Government level and printing of the final text, I expect that the White Paper will be published in late February 2000. It would be premature for me to comment on any aspect of the White Paper in advance of a draft being considered by the Government.
