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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 3

Other Questions. - Defence Forces Equipment.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

6 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the nature and range of equipment available to the Defence Forces to carry out preliminary tests on suspect chemical or biological substances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29445/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

58 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if all the Defence Forces are now fully supplied with gas masks or breathing apparatus likely to be required in the event of a terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29618/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

59 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the military have adequate resources to prevent a terrorist attack, particularly during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29619/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 58 and 59 together.

The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting its members in dealing with nuclear, biological or chemical threats identified from time to time. The requirement for additional NBC equipment is kept under continuous review by the Ordnance Corps. A programme for the purchase of NBC equipment is ongoing and whatever equipment deemed necessary is purchased expeditiously to meet the changing requirements.

The Defence Forces hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment which meets their current requirements. In particular, 7,000 new NBC suits have been acquired. In addition, the Defence Forces have sufficient stocks of respirators for each individual soldier. They also have 98 of the most technologically up-to-date chemical agent monitors and Defence Forces personnel have been trained in their operation. Other equipment on hand includes biological agent detector and screening kits, group decontamination equipment and personal decontamination equipment.

The Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power – assisting the Garda Síochána – which includes the protection and guarding of vital installations and the provision of certain security escorts.

Consultation on roles and requirements for the EU Presidency is currently ongoing between the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, who will render such assistance as may be appropriate. Obviously the security of key EU Presidency meetings is important and it would be inappropriate for me to indicate the nature and extent of any roles which the Defence Forces may undertake.

The most important defence against an attack is external vigilance, detection and prevention by the security forces. All the necessary resources of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces are being deployed to this end.

Is the Minister satisfied that adequate equipment is available to the Defence Forces to allow them to deal with all threats of chemical or biological attack? Is cover available in all parts of the country on a 24 hour basis? How many times were the Defence Forces called out in the past year to deal with suspect chemical or biological devices?

During the anthrax scare, over 200 calls were logged and the Defences Forces dealt with them competently. Arising from that experience, the screening kits and other facilities were purchased to enable us to do the preliminary tests on substances and give an initial assessment of the problem using our own resources. These facilities are distributed across the country and valuable experience and training has been gained in their use, particularly during the anthrax scare.

I pay tribute to my colleagues in the Department of Health and Children for the support we received from them in developing the protocols for dealing with scares of this kind and ensuring public confidence in the way we do things. How can I say, however, that we have everything we need, not knowing what the threat will be? We assess it as best we can and are as well prepared as possible.

Has the Government accepted the Minister's proposal to establish a statutory office to co-ordinate emergency planning?

I am chairman of the Office of Emergency Planning. We might reach the stage where the decision would be taken to establish the office on a statutory basis but we have not yet reached it. Much work has been done and all Departments and agencies have co-operated in the development of the emergency planning system to ensure we have an effective management structure in which there can be public confidence. The Government has not yet decided whether a statutory office would be appropriate but I have strong views on the matter and it might be wise in the medium to long-term to put this on a statutory basis.

Gas masks and breathing apparatus equipment are basic protective devices in the event of an attack. Has such equipment been purchased recently in case it is needed?

I could not give the Deputy the exact nature of all the different types of masks and the protection kits that we have but the military authorities assure me that additional funding is being provided on an ongoing basis in light of the experiences that we are gaining. I will try to give him greater detail later but we have a large number of items.

Liz McManus

Question:

7 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence when it is intended to proceed with the plans to acquire a fleet of light armoured vehicles for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29452/03]

The Defence Forces commenced a programme to acquire Mowag APC or light armoured vehicles in 1999. To date 40 of these vehicles have been received and a further 25 vehicles are scheduled for delivery in 2004. The total cost of the programme is in the region of €84 million. In addition to this programme, the Defence Forces has a requirement for a smaller light armoured vehicle, designated as a light tactical vehicle which can be used to protect troops engaged in peace support operations in areas where the larger Mowag APC would be inappropriate. For instance, the movement of one to three personnel in high risk confined areas and general surveillance work are among the key roles of the vehicle.

Funding for this programme must be considered in the context of the larger APC programme and the changed financial situation. It has been agreed with the military authorities that the programme for the acquisition of the vehicles will not proceed for the present. In the meantime, the Defence Forces will continue to conduct further studies on the type and specification of vehicle required.

Does the Minister accept that these vehicles could have been of significant assistance to the Irish contingent going to Liberia? Has money been allocated in the Estimates for 2004 for these vehicles, or has the plan been abandoned?

When we decided to send members of the Defence Forces on the mission to Kosovo the military authorities said they would require a particular kind of vehicle known as DROPS, costing approximately €200,000 each. We immediately put a tender process in train and purchased approximately 24 of those at that price. There are 65 armoured personnel carriers at a total cost of €84 million which are the most appropriate vehicles for Liberia, having been tried in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The military authorities have not said that not proceeding with the light tactical vehicles creates problems for us in the Liberian mission as the Mowags are available there. This is one of the programmes with which we have been unable to proceed but no concern has been expressed to me that the absence of such vehicles creates a problem in Liberia.

Is there provision in the Estimates for the vehicles?

Not for 2004.

When the new vehicles are purchased and operational will there be redundant vehicles, that have given us long service? I am sure the Minister is aware that many organisations, in particular, the Lebanon Veterans Association, would make good use of these redundant vehicles. Will the Minister agree that these veteran associations have no difficulty getting redundant vehicles from forces other than the Irish Defence Forces, for example, the UK defence forces? Will he use his good offices to make surplus or redundant vehicles available to this worthy and credible organisation whose headquarters are in County Clare adjacent to the Minister's constituency.

I thought Deputies Sherlock and McGinley and the Leas-Ceann Comhairle and I were getting along reasonably well this afternoon and that Deputy McGinley would behave himself, but now he is tormenting me. On a serious note, however, I am looking at that proposition. It has been emphasised that we have several vehicles which have come to the end of their vital use for the Defence Forces and I am sympathetic to that proposition. I have demonstrated that before now because recently I have received requests from the regional technical colleges in Carlow and Dublin for other old vehicles for training purposes and I am anxious to facilitate them. I want, as best I can, to meet the requests of educational or historical societies, museums or similar organisations. I have to be fair-minded about this and have some way of determining how best to proceed. The opportunity to meet the instruction and training requirements of educational and technical colleges appealed to me and I was able to respond. I will see how far I can extend that remit and meet Deputy McGinley's concern.

The Minister knows all about it.

I do and the person concerned is a heavyweight.

It is the Minister's responsibility.

He should also apply to play with the county in goal because no one would ever get past him.

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