Joan Burton
Question:61 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Defence his plans to allow members of the FCA to participate in international peacekeeping operations involving the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8921/03]
Other Questions. - Defence Forces Reserve.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:69 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of the report of the ministerial steering group on the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8925/03]
Billy Timmins
Question:94 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence his plans to permit members of the FCA to serve overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8944/03]
David Stanton
Question:108 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the future role of the new Defence Force Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9203/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 69, 94 and 108 together.
On 15 January 2003 I approved, in principle, the report of the Reserve Defence Forces review implementation board for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the Reserve Defence Force. The group, which I established to undertake a study of the Reserve Defence Force, reported to me in September 1999. The Permanent Defence Force is now organised in a three-brigade structure and a Defence Forces training centre. The Reserve Defence Force will be similarly reorganised and restructured and it is envisaged that the implementation of these changes will take place over a period of six years.
The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its nationwide geographical spread, an aspect which will, in general terms, be retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new Reserve Defence Force will be determined in the course of the ongoing detailed implementation process. Plans are being prepared within each brigade for the amalgamation of FCA units, in line with the proposals outlined in the steering group report. The objective of this process is to ensure that better training and other facilities will be provided to members of the Reserve Defence Force. No decisions have been taken on the location of the proposed newly amalgamated units, but the military authorities have advised me that all proposed amalgamations will provide an optimal environment for personnel in the relevant areas to partake in the enhanced Reserve Defence Force.
In general terms, the blueprint for the new Reserve Defence Force will involve replacing An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil with an Army reserve force consisting of two elements. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with Permanent Defence Force units, to bring them up to full operational strength in a contingency situation. Personnel who opt for a period of integrated service will be provided with enhanced military training. The larger element will comprise the overall Army reserve, organised into three reserve brigades.
Members of the FCA are seeing the benefits of the reorganisation process in terms of better clothing, improved equipment and more and better quality training. As the process develops, there will be additional benefits in terms of a clearer role for the Reserve Defence Force, a better overall organisation structure and opportunities for suitably qualified reserve personnel to serve overseas. We will also see benefits from the closer integration of the Reserve Defence Force with the Army.
An important change recommended in the study of the Reserve Defence Force, which was also contained in the White Paper on Defence, is that members of the FCA should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions, subject to suitable qualifications, personal availability and appropriate advance training. Service by reservists on overseas peace support missions in other countries is quite common. General criteria governing selection for overseas service come within the scope of representation. Any matters relating to overseas service by members of the Reserve Defence Force which come within the scope of representation will be raised with the representative associations at the appropriate forum. The security of civilian employment for the members of the Reserve Defence Force who may wish to serve overseas will be considered as part of the implementation process.
I emphasise that I am mindful of the need to preserve and retain the many traditional and well-established strengths of the current Reserve Defence Force system, not least the admirable spirit of individual voluntary commitment, close social links with local communities and a good depth and scope as regards nationwide geographical spread.
Perhaps the Minister's reply contained the information I seek, but I will ask my question anyway. Can the Minister tell the House whether a definite decision has been taken to allow members of the FCA to participate in overseas peacekeeping operations, as they have sought? If so, what efforts have been made to ascertain the various skills that they would need to have? Is it planned to audit the skills of the Reserve Defence Force?
I was delighted to include a provision in the White Paper on Defence, the first ever such paper, to enable members of the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas. It is quite common, as I said in my reply, for reservists from other countries to serve on overseas peace support missions. We are looking forward to developing the Reserve Defence Force in a certain manner. Additional training and extra facilities will provide new opportunities. It will take some time. Specialist areas, where we have shortages and regular difficulties meeting overseas mission requirements under UN mandates from the Permanent Defence Forces, are the first issues that must be addressed. Reserve members have other employment which they must be sure is available to them when they return from overseas duty. There are also questions of dealing with the representative associations and deciding how the new arrangements will ultimately operate. The principle has been established and the plan to ensure that the training is put in place is evolving. Ultimately, we will achieve our goal.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that prior to members of the Reserve being allowed to participate in international peacekeeping operations, there must be an amalgamation of the Reserve and the Permanent Defence Forces? If that is the plan, what are the implications for FCA installations in parts of the country in which there are no PDF facilities? I may have missed reference to the matters in the Minister's initial reply and I would appreciate clarification.
I am not sure I covered those aspects of the matter adequately. Reserve members will not join the Permanent Defence Forces. Under the new arrangements, 2,656 members of the Reserve will be brought up to PDF standard through more centralised training. For geographical reasons, it will not be possible for members in every part of the country to attain PDF level, although I would love to think we could do it. I need to be practical and honest about this. The closer Reserve members live to headquarters and to mainstream facilities, the better are their options. Otherwise, they would have inordinately long journeys to make which would affect their ability to protect their permanent employment and their family life. The process does not involve membership of the PDF, it involves opening to Reserve members for the first time the facilities to train and advance their capacity to enable them to participate in overseas missions. As I observed to Deputy Sherlock, the process will initially begin with more specialist groups who will not have to engage in the type of training I am referring to. Doctors, dentists, mechanics and those who have specialised training in communications technology or a raft of other areas are the people I have in mind.
What is the envisaged time scale?
At the moment we are saying six years. I would dearly love to be able to permit reserve members to participate in missions before then if the consultative process on which that depends were to allow it.
Will primary or secondary legislative changes be required to allow reserve members to serve overseas? What are the cost implications of bringing the reserve up to the standards the Minister points out are required in terms of man hours, extra equipment and training? Have projections been made in that regard? Does the Minister plan to expand the role of the Reserve to include drug interdiction or other matters, or will its primary function continue to be training?
Under discussion is an enhanced contingency role. We will not recruit committed reservists unless we continue to evolve opportunities such as overseas service. It would be impossible to define the cost implications, although there will be some. There may also be hidden savings if this develops as we think it might. I do not intend to go into them, but Deputies will be able to work them out quickly for themselves. The tendency is always that there are additional costs while savings are rare.
No legislation appears to be required to permit overseas service by reservists. If we need to introduce changes, we will have the opportunity to make provisions through primary legislation. I would rather postpone a decision on that until we have developed the negotiation process.
Can the reserve undertake overseas service without changing legislation or are new defence regulations and secondary legislation required?
My understanding is that legislation is not required. If it transpires that there is such a requirement, the total unanimity on the matter in the House would facilitate its introduction. Even if legislation were required, I would not be prepared to draft it until after negotiations of the new arrangements are complete.
I agree with the Minister that this is a young person's game. Perhaps it is just as well that there is a prohibition on the participation of Members of this House. I wonder about the compatibility of equipment for the reserve if we get to the stage that its members are deployed overseas. Will significant funding be required to upgrade and procure weapons and equipment?
I do not want to take unwarranted credit for changes, but I was ashamed of the resources provided to the FCA when I became Minister for Defence. Since I took office, all the new uniforms have been provided and the Steyr rifle has been made available. We are improving equipment as much as we can. There will be some cost implications, but Deputies should realise that amalgamated units and centralised training will provide opportunities to avail of many existing provisions. Over time there will be some cost implications, although it may be possible to off-set them in other areas. There is no point in talking about developing the reserve if we do not provide it with the resources it needs to perform to the full extent of its ability.
In referring to international peacekeeping operations, has the Minister the Petersberg Tasks and peace enforcement in mind?
The Petersberg Tasks are unquestionably included under UN mandates. The question of peace enforcement could arise, but it is not something one can make a judgment on before a particular case occurs. To engage in such missions, Dáil and Government approval would be required and there would be a need to ascertain security risks through proper reconnaissance. To anticipate in advance and commit oneself to something without reference to a particular example would be injudicious. We will just have to wait and see.
How long will it be before members of the reserve will be able to serve overseas? Will the Minister ensure that the section of the reserve that will not be integrated will not be left on the sidelines? Could he tell us what their role will be? How would they be deployed in any operational work? What expanded role could they have in order to make it interesting for them as well?
I would expect the first members to serve overseas in the life-time of this Government. That is subject to concluding negotiations with the representative associations to work out the question of secure employment and various other things with the employers and ensure that people are not obligated but free and secure when they return to take up their posts. That applies primarily in the more specialised areas in the foreseeable future.
The Deputy has asked an extremely difficult question with regard to the 9,500 members of the reserve for whom this is not an option. It would be tempting to say we intend to apply this to them all, and the Deputy would know that was false. A great number of the members are based in parts of west Cork, Donegal, and Mayo. I would love to be able to say the same thing about Dublin City, Cork City, and Limerick where we need to involve people in the voluntary service of reserve. Much of the early work will involve efforts to establish the reserve in places such as Tallaght, Clondalkin and elsewhere where that fantastic ethos which is being built around the reserve can be built up. We can then see what additional work and services it can provide and enhance its equipment. However, we must make that judgment call. We must distinguish between what is possible for a limited number and what will not, for a variety of reasons, be possible for the rest. It is a difficult question to answer. We cannot foresee now how exactly this will develop, but I am open to ideas and suggestions about what can be done.
The question refers to the involvement of the FCA in an international peace-keeping force. Is the Minister saying that the process will begin very shortly or in the distant future? The Minister mentioned enforcement. In what circumstances does he envisage FCA involvement in enforcement abroad? Would that require a change of legislation here?
It required a change of legislation prior to the expedition to Somalia in 1993 to facilitate an engagement of that kind. This is not something that can be pre-judged. It depends on the options, what one is asked and expected to do, the nature of the crisis, the part of the world, and what the reconnaissance people say about it. I do not want to judge any of that. I said it would happen in the life-time of this Government. It is certainly a couple of years away yet.