Ruairí Quinn
Question:133 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the proposed statutory instruments being prepared in, or under the auspices of, his Department; the proposed effect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7184/02]
Written Answers. - Statutory Instruments.
There is one statutory instrument being prepared in the Civil Defence branch entitled Air-Raid Precautions Services (Compensation for Personal Injuries) (Fifth Amendment) Scheme, 2002. The effect of this proposed statutory instrument is to update the compensation payable under S.I. No. 183 of 1976, Air-Raid Precautions Services (Compensation for Personal Injuries) (Fourth Amendment) Scheme, 1976. The amendments proposed are currently with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for final preparation. S.I. No. 104 of 1973 Air-Raid Precautions Services (Compensation for Personal Injuries) Scheme, 1973 allows compensation in certain circumstances to Civil Defence volunteers or their dependants, if the volunteers are injured, disabled or die while on Civil Defence duty. At present, my Department is engaged in an ongoing programme of reviewing all Defence Force regulations with a view to their simplification and modernisation. Defence Force regulations are statutory instruments made by the Minister for Defence pursuant to various provisions of the Defence Acts, 1954 to 1998. Many of the provisions in the regulations are out-dated and overly detailed. While certain matters relating to the management of the Defence Forces will continue to be prescribed in regulations in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Defence Act, all of the administrative detail relating thereto will be the subject of administrative instructions which will be issued by the relevant senior military authority.