Bernard J. Durkan
Question:62 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if state of the art communication facilities will be available to Irish troops serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29623/03]
Vol. 576 No. 3
62 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if state of the art communication facilities will be available to Irish troops serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29623/03]
63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if all troops serving abroad or likely to serve abroad have received the full complement of vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29624/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.
Due to the equipment modernisation programmes that have taken place in the Defence Forces over the past few years, Irish contingents being deployed overseas are among the best equipped personnel. I am advised by the military authorities that state-of-the-art communications facilities are provided for all Defence Forces missions overseas. In their operational role, the Defence Forces are equipped with modern digital tactical radios for short range and long range communications. These allow the headquarters maintain contact with personnel on the ground. Global positioning system equipment is also provided as a handheld device and embedded GPS is provided within some of these radios which allows automatic tracking of the user. In addition, for patrolling in areas of doubtful normal radio communications, two types of satellite links are provided viz. Iridium handheld phones which provide voice facilities and which have been proven by Defence Forces personnel worldwide on other missions and Inmarsat satellite C, fitted to a vehicle and which provides data capabilities worldwide.
Voice and data facilities, Defence Forces internal e-mail, are available for operational use at any time. These facilities allow communications between the headquarters in the mission area and Defence Forces headquarters. In addition, telephone access is provided, at less than local Irish tariff rates, to personnel to contact their families and friends. This facility is normally available from 4 p.m. daily and private phone booths are provided for this purpose. Internet facilities are provided for all personnel through an Internet cafe located within the headquarters. All equipment is provided by the Defence Forces communications and information services corps and personnel pay for usage time.