Vol. 524 No. 5
156 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Defence the number of times the Defence Forces strategic management committee has met; the number of meetings he has attended; the number of meetings he has chaired; if these meetings are achieving an improvement of relations between his Department and the Defence Forces and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22950/00]
The management structures of the Department of Defence have changed substantially in recent years. In 1996, the Defence Forces strategic management committee was established arising from the reviews undertaken in the defence area at that time and has met some 14 times to date. This built on the existing more informal arrangements for addressing joint civil-military issues.
The strategic management committee, SMC, provides an important forum for the discussion of all major policy issues. It is chaired by the Secretary General and its other members are the Chief of Staff, the two deputy chiefs of staff and the two assistant secretaries of the Department. The general officer commanding the Air Corps and the flag officer commanding the Naval Service also attend in respect of items affecting their services.
It was decided that following the White Paper on Defence that the role of the SMC will be enhanced by means of a greater emphasis on strategic planning and on policy formulation and review. A more proactive role for the SMC will help to maintain a shared understanding of the policy objectives facing the Defence organisation with a view to ensuring that the Minister has the best possible advice available to him. It is envisaged that the SMC will now meet on a monthly basis and I propose to chair quarterly meetings. The first of these is scheduled to take place shortly.
