Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Michael Joe Cosgrave
Question:
104
Mr. Cosgrave
asked the
Minister for Defence
the number of task forces or special committees set up in his Department since 1997; the date they were established; the terms of reference of each; if they have reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24486/01]
Other than departmental committees which are established on an ongoing basis, the following task forces and special committees have been set up in my Department since 1997. The naval and air services consultation group was established in November, 1998 on foot of the special studies of the Air Corps and Naval Service conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants. The group's remit was to provide inputs to the naval and air services planning process which culminated with the completion of the naval service implementation plan and the air corps implementation plan. Following the completion of its work, the group was disbanded in June 2001. In September 2001, the Naval Service joint implementation team was established to oversee the implementation of the Naval Service implementation plan. It is envisaged that the team will report progress in due course.
Arising from the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise into the accident at Tramore in 1999 a working group, comprising representatives from both the civilian and military branches of my Department and from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, was established in September 2000 to monitor progress in regard to the implementation of the safety recommendations set out in that report. The work of this group is ongoing and regular progress reports are made.
An interdepartmental defence and security environment assessment group was established in February 2000 to ensure the Government is kept up to date on the implications for defence and the Defence Forces of developments in the defence and security environment. The group has representatives from the civil and military branches of my Department and from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána.
In August 2001, a special steering group, comprising members of the Defence Forces and civilian experts, was established to study the nature and extent of bullying – sexual harassment in the Defence Forces, to review existing policies and procedures, to make recommendations on strategies and programmes of awareness and education in the area. The group is expected to report next year.
In July, 1998 the Government approved the appointment of an interdepartmental task force on the future management and development of the Curragh of Kildare. In addition to officials of the Department of Defence, both civilian and military, the following Departments-State agencies were represented: Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Department of the Environment and Local Government, Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Kildare County Council and Midlands East Regional Tourism Authority.
The terms of reference of the task force were to make recommendations as to the most appropriate Department or State agency to have overall responsibility for the Curragh having regard to its significant archaeological, cultural, environmental and historical importance; to examine and report on the existing situation with regard to the use and management of the Curragh; to make recommendations on the future control, management and staffing structure which requires to be put in place to ensure the effective operation and preservation of the area into the next millennium; to examine and report on existing legislation governing the use of the area and to make recommendations with regard to future legislative requirements; to consider and report on the possibility of the region being developed as a leisure and amenity area with greater public access; to seek submissions from all interested parties, both statutory and non-statutory including the relevant local authority, Kildare County Council; and to examine and report on the existing prison facility with a view to its expansion to meet accommodation demands. The task force's report was presented in June 1999. The report, while not published, was made available to the public in May 2000.
