Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - White Paper on Defence.

Ms Fitzgerald

It is evident that the much delayed, long promised White Paper on Defence is unravelling and threatening to deteriorate into one of the most serious crises ever in the relationship between the Defence Forces and the Government. There is clearly a huge gulf between the Minister, his advisers and the Department, on the one hand, and the professionals of the Defence Forces, whose future the paper is meant to address, on the other. It is abundantly clear that the consultation process has degenerated into a disaster, with potentially serious consequences for the future leadership of the Defence Forces, for morale and for recruitment.

What began as yet another review of the Army, Navy and Air Corps has been allowed to be transformed into a nightmare scenario which is now threatening the future of all three services. Everyone accepts that some disagreement is inevitable but the scale and sheer volume of the negative response to the leaked White Paper and the Minister's leadership on this issue is disturbing. What has happened to the consultation process? Why has there been a breakdown of this degree and depth with such potentially serious repercussions? Why has the Minister not improved communications with the leadership of the Defence Forces since the leak of the White Paper? Why did he find it necessary to enter the Dáil two days ago and speak about the leadership of the Defence Forces in such a threatening and offensive manner? Is this what we should expect from a Minister for Defence? Is it a reflection of the relationship between the Minister and the most senior members of the Defence Forces?

I understand that the circumstances surrounding the forthcoming publication of the long promised White Paper are now so critical that the Minister could be faced with resignations, thus creating an unprecedented situation and a potential crisis in the relationship between the Executive and the Defence Forces. The exit from the Defence Forces of qualified and experienced personnel could also escalate – I hope that does not happen – as a result of this problem.

This situation is appalling and should not have been allowed to develop. It is worth pointing out that when the White Paper was promised in an election manifesto, the Defence Forces were only then emerging from a massive review and reorganisation. The Defence Forces have already had to face up to huge changes and the effect of delaying the White Paper and allowing rumours to circulate unabated over a long period in respect of cutbacks in personnel numbers and reductions in the roles of the Air Corps and the Navy is hugely damaging.

While the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs sign up for further commitments to Partnership for Peace and a European led rapid reaction force and while they visit Kosovo to reassure our troops, there is nothing but uncertainty emanating from the Department of Defence at present. It is astonishing that we have arrived at a point in the process of the production of the White Paper where the advice of members of the Defence Forces and their representative associations would appear to have been totally disregarded. Ongoing news reports about the Air Corps and its equipment are also a cause for grave concern and that is an issue which I am raising separately.

We all accept that the Defence Forces must continue to modernise, be efficient in terms of taxpayers' resources and be fully accountable and ready to respond to future needs in an adaptive and flexible manner. However, this cannot occur in a policy vacuum. Defence Forces staff have made it clear that the retention of three brigades is the bare minimum needed to fulfil our obligations. The Minister is delaying decisions on a series of overdue and critical issues. I ask him to inform the House how he intends to address the serious issues surrounding the White Paper which have emerged in recent weeks.

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter.

This afternoon my Department circulated a draft memorandum for the Government and draft White Paper to relevant Departments for their observations. I will submit the draft to the Government for its consideration immediately on receiving these observations.

The completion of the draft White Paper is the culmination of a long, careful and very detailed preparative process, an important element of which was the consultative part. I was aware that a topic of such fundamental importance as Defence should be the subject of widespread consultation. However, I was also keenly conscious of the need for balance to be maintained between consultation, on the one hand and my duty as Minister in relation to the formation of defence policy on the other.

A total of 46 submissions were received from a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations and following examination of these, invitations were extended to a number of individuals or groups where it was felt that further contact would be useful. As stated from the outset, my concern was to ensure that all those who wished to make an input to the White Paper process should be facilitated in doing so. In that regard, the key stakeholders, including the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Foreign Affairs and the military authorities, have had an opportunity to make their input to the White Paper. In addition, throughout the drafting process the military authorities have also been able to make their input in a number of different ways.

As outlined previously, the overall objectives of the White Paper as published at the commencement of the consultative process are as follows: to provide a medium-term policy framework within which Defence policy can evolve to set out a clear strategy for the next ten years; to provide for the continuation of the reform programme of Defence services, already commenced under the Defence Forces implementation plan, consistent with the national and international security environment and the state of the public finances; to ensure that the management of the Defence services is in accordance with the evolution of the strategic management initiative centrally and to set out the basis for the future development of Civil Defence policy and the follow-up to the current "Towards 2000" strategy.

I have always viewed the White Paper as presenting a positive opportunity to map out a strategy for the development of the Defence Forces and Civil Defence during the next ten years. I assure the House that is what it will do. Furthermore, as indicated on previous occasions, real positive changes, which I have overseen, continue to be made in the Defence Forces. I refer to continuous recruitment – this is the first Government to maintain such a policy – new equipment, better infrastructure, closure of barracks, improved overseas allowances and better, more streamlined organisation structures.

In recent years considerable sums have been expended under the Defence Vote for new equipment and in providing new and upgraded living and operational accommodation for the Defence Forces. I intend to continue and expand, where possible, the modernisation programme to ensure the Defence Forces are equipped to the highest standards appropriate to their roles. However, as Members are aware, I am not a man to rest on my laurels. I believe we have a responsibility and the potential exists to do more.

We live in a dynamic and changing world – we have seen undreamed of change. The Defence Forces must continue to evolve and change to meet the new challenges arising in the defence and security environment. I am determined that we should have the best Defence Forces possible, given the resources available, and I have no doubt that this is what individual soldiers also desire.

As with all Government publications, the White Paper will be widely promulgated. I again assure the House that consultations on it will take place with the Defence Forces representative associations in accordance with the normal system of representation.