Dara Calleary
Question:40 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the role that was played by the Defence Forces in providing security for the State visits of Queen Elizabeth II and United States President Barack Obama. [12130/11]
Priority Questions
Security for State Visits
Security arrangements for the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and the President of the United States were primarily an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the 2000 White Paper on Defence is the provision of aid to the civil power — meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Síochána. With regard to these two hugely successful visits, the role played by the Defence Forces included search, surveillance and security operations on land, at sea and in the air as requested by, and in support of, An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces were also involved in the guarding of vital installations and in the provision of ceremonial duties as part of Queen Elizabeth's State visit.
Consultations on the role and requirements of the Defence Forces, in advance and throughout the two visits, were ongoing with An Garda Síochána. Having regard to future similar scale events, it would be inappropriate for me to indicate the nature and extent of any of the particular roles which the Defence Forces may have undertaken.
It is only appropriate that, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, I should thank members of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána for the Trojan work which they undertook both in preparation for and during the visits. Their professionalism, whether it was in providing the necessary security arrangements or participating in the ceremonial aspects, has contributed greatly to the success of the visits and once again shows their commitment and dedication.
In this regard, I also wish to commend the Defence Forces for the great dignity with which they carried out their role during last weekend's State funeral of our former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald. Indeed, in relation to all of the historic events that have taken place over the past week, I particularly wish to express my appreciation to the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and to the Garda Commissioner, and their senior staff, for the leadership that they have shown to their respective organisations.
The vast majority of people in the State welcomed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to our country and also the visit of President Obama. In praising the enormous contribution of both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces to these events, it is appropriate that I should say something more about security matters. While the right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy and is a fundamental constitutional right, it is unacceptable that the many thousands of people who would have wished to welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on our streets, and to view personally the historic events that took place during last week's visit, were largely confined to doing so on their television screens because of the threat posed by a small minority of malcontents, criminal terrorists and thugs. It would not have been necessary to mount such an intensive and expensive security operation if not for the conduct of these people.
It is disturbing that despite the external threat posed by fundamental extremist groups, many thousands of people who attended the visit of President Obama in College Green yesterday were, for security reasons arising from the threats and actions of domestic home-grown groups of malcontents, unable to be in similar proximity to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during the royal visit. This is deeply regrettable. I hope that on any future visit this will not cause a further difficulty and require a similar level of security.
I want expressly and publicly to thank both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for rapidly responding to a multiplicity of hoax bomb calls over the past week, and the Defence Forces for their engagement in dealing with a small number of devices intended to cause injury and disrupt the royal visit. On behalf of the Government I want to make it clear that the full rigours of the law have been, and will be, brought to bear on those responsible and in all cases, where appropriate, prosecutions will be initiated.
On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I join the Minister in thanking the Defence Forces and the Garda for the manner in which they policed and managed the past week's events, the Queen's visit and the visit by President Obama yesterday. The dignity they brought to the ceremonies involving their predecessors in the Garden of Remembrance and at Islandbridge showed that they are the true Óglaigh na hÉireann. Those who steal that badge and refuse to give it due credence were shown for what they were last week by the magnificent role played by the Defence Forces in particular. I noted the manner in which the Defence Forces were able to perform a wide range of professional duties, which shows the talents we have in our relatively small Permanent Defence Force and the skills available to it. Its work was done in good humour and with good grace throughout the week.
The Deputy must ask a question.
Last week, we asked about the budget for the Department of Justice and Equality. The bills have not come in yet, but will it be necessary to table a new Estimate in the House in respect of the Department of Defence, given the extra cost and overtime involved in the week's events? If not, will the Minister allocate the expenditure for last week from other subheads within the Department?
The approximate cost of the Defence Forces' involvement is currently estimated to be €1.1million for the visit of Queen Elizabeth and approximately €630,000 for the visit of President Obama. In the context of the Garda's involvement, we do not yet have a final figure. When it becomes known, it will be made publicly available.
In the context of the need for a Supplementary Estimate, decisions in those areas have not been made. In light of both visits, we were anxious to ensure that the capacity of the Garda to provide a full and proper policing service to the end of the year, to meet all of its obligations and to do what is essential to address the issues that fall within its remit would not be impaired. The Government will address that issue when the final bill comes in and the final amounts are known.
With regard to the Defence Forces budget, it is unlikely that there will be a need for any Supplementary Estimate, but we have only just got the final figures. Should an issue arise out of them, the House will certainly be informed but, at this stage, I do not anticipate the need for a Supplementary Estimate.
Naval Service Operations
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:41 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Defence the amount of Defence Forces personnel and resources that are involved in anti-smuggling and anti-drugs activities and the amount of Defence Forces personnel and resources that are committed to this action on a constant dedicated basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12134/11]
The customs service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for prevention of drug smuggling into the country and responsibility for prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work.
The joint task force on drug interdiction, established in 1993 as a Government measure to improve law enforcement in respect of drugs, consists of members of An Garda Síochána, the customs service and the Naval Service. Drug interdiction is carried out by naval ships on receipt of intelligence from the joint task force. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships, which are tasked with coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union.
The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish exclusive economic zone at any one time. All vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on fisheries patrol. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels are deployed to other duties including drug interdiction operations.
The Naval Service, as a member of the joint task force, is also committed to an international initiative, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre — Narcotics, MAOC-N. The centre, which was established in 2007, has led to a greater focus on intelligence exchange among countries to tackle large drug shipments by sea. It was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international co-ordination force with access to national tasking agencies and requires participation and resources from all active members. An Garda Síochána and the customs service have full-time officers based at the centre in Lisbon. Naval Service personnel travel to the centre when requested by the joint task force.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
The acquisition of the two new offshore patrol vessels for the Naval Service will ensure that the service can continue to carry out its drug interdiction and other roles in increasingly difficult and dangerous sea conditions in the Atlantic. Preparations for their construction have commenced at Appledore in the UK and the first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second vessel will follow one year later.
Air Corps personnel and resources are also involved in efforts to prevent drug trafficking. The Air Corps maritime squadron carries out aerial surveillance of our exclusive economic zone using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft underwent mid-life upgrades, which were completed in 2008 at a cost of €16.5 million. The upgrades included the fitting of state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment. At times, the Air Corps has also carried members of the customs national drugs team in an observational capacity for the purposes of monitoring vessels suspected of smuggling drugs.
Defence Forces personnel and resources are not dedicated solely to drug interdiction operations. However, prevention of drug smuggling is recognised as an important part of their many duties.
Given the nature of Ireland as an island and our coastline, many view Ireland as a drop off point for the rest of Europe. Taking this into account, what type of co-operation is there at European level in combating drugs and what role do the Defence Forces play in that regard?
I take it from the Minister's answer that no set percentage of the budget is allocated for anti-smuggling operations. Are those operations conducted on a day-to-day basis or are they responses based on intelligence?
To some extent, it is based on both. It is based on intelligence received or, at times, other initiatives can be taken when circumstances arise. In the context of dealing with matters on a co-ordinated basis, I have referred to the MAOC-N, based in Lisbon, which we participate in and from which we receive intelligence information. The navy also receives information from An Garda Síochána and the customs service. The navy has been successful in terms of drug seizures. For example, two major consignments of cocaine were seized at sea in recent years, one in 2007 in Dunlough Bay and one off the west County Cork coast in 2008. These operations resulted in the seizure of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine, which had an approximate street value of €1.2 billion.
The navy will continue to play a role in this area in the context of the co-operation in which it is engaged with the Garda Síochána and the customs service and in terms of what intelligence we receive in a European context. We are anxious to ensure that the shores of our State are not used as an access point for the importation of drugs that are sold to people in this State or elsewhere in Europe.
As the Deputy is aware, we have a limited Naval Service and our eight vessels cannot all be at sea at the same time. I have great admiration for the job done by the Naval Service and for its professionalism and expertise. At no stage has there been any suggestion that it would do anything other than its very best in seeking to tackle the drugs scourge.
Army Barracks
Mattie McGrath
Question:42 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to ensure the ongoing sustainability and development of Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary. [12133/11]
Various commissions, reports and studies dating back to the 1990s identified barrack closure as a fundamental requirement towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency. The dispersal of Defence Forces personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training and the consolidation process is designed to facilitate higher training standards while freeing up under-utilised resources and personnel for operational duties. In addition, the funding realised from the disposal of surplus barracks and properties provides some of the resources required for infrastructure, training area development and equipment procurement.
The defence property portfolio is kept under review to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by the Government to the Defence Forces. In this context, the dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to effectiveness and imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective for me as we strive to maximise the effectiveness of the Defence Forces. While no decision has been made on the future of any military installation, I cannot give a commitment that there will not be further programmes of barrack consolidation.
I too am concerned, as Kickham Barracks is in a strategic location in the south east, with valuable personnel. I am sure the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána were of great assistance in the past week with the visits of the Queen and President Obama to Tipperary. I would like to be associated fully and wholeheartedly with the comments the Minister made about the Garda. However, I have concerns about the future of the installation in Clonmel, which provides vital services in the community. I ask the Minister to pay a visit to Kickham Barracks to see first-hand what goes on and what a strategic location it is.
I thank Deputies McGrath and Calleary for their complimentary comments about the performance of the Defence Forces over the past week, which elicited a substantial amount of public admiration, including internationally. The manner in which our Defence Forces presented themselves and conducted their duties has resulted in substantial praise from different parts of the world. They should feel proud of themselves and we in the House should feel proud of them.
I appreciate the concerns expressed by the Deputy. As I said earlier, the key criterion will be the requirement to move towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency, and we must do so in the context of the difficult economic climate with which we are confronted and the limited funds available to the Government for current expenditure.
With the present spread of barracks, individual infantry battalions and their support services are spread over a number of locations. This has a severe impact on their ability to be fully effective, and must be addressed. However, as I said to the Deputy, no decisions have been made. Should I get the opportunity, I would be happy to accept the Deputy's invitation.
Defence Policy
Dara Calleary
Question:43 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence his plans for a White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12131/11]
The 2000 White Paper on Defence was a central driver of the significant reform that has been pursued in the defence organisation during the past decade. There has been significant change to the defence and security environment since the publication of the White Paper, and the Defence Forces have developed and adapted to meet the changing demands. This was facilitated by a re-balancing of expenditure within the broad resource envelope that was available for defence, which allowed for necessary investment in equipment and infrastructure from the proceeds of pay savings and property sales.
The programme for Government sets out a target for fiscal consolidation in the period to 2015. In line with the programme for Government, a comprehensive review of expenditure is currently being undertaken by officials in my Department in co-operation with the military authorities. This review is critically examining how services can be delivered in the most efficient and effective manner and identifying options for the delivery of savings.
I believe there is now a requirement to prepare a new White Paper on Defence, given the ongoing changes in the defence and security environment and changes to the resource envelope available for defence. It is important that the policies we pursue are both realistic and effective. I wish to ensure that the process of developing a new White Paper provides an opportunity for an open debate about the defence and security challenges facing us over the coming years and how we should respond to these challenges. I have had preliminary discussions with officials in my Department as to the type of process that can best elicit the kind of debate that is necessary and desirable.
The current White Paper on Defence has served the defence organisation well. It will continue to provide the defence policy framework until the development of the new policy framework is complete. I look forward, as we develop a new White Paper, to the debate that will ensue about its possible content.
Is there a timetable for this process? As the Minister said, our Defence Forces are facing very different challenges in terms of international duties, which I am glad to see we have recommenced, and also in terms of the issue raised by Deputy O'Brien in his question, which is possibly the biggest challenge facing the Defence Forces. How does he intend to ensure we have constructive public involvement and that the challenges associated with the implementation of a White Paper will be fully met?
I acknowledge the transformation that has occurred in the Defence Forces under the previous White Paper. It is essential that we build on that transformation and challenge our Defence Forces to respond to it by giving them the most ambitious White Paper possible within the constraints that exist.
It is my recollection that the previous White Paper essentially emerged from the Government without substantial public debate. We do need a discussion process and we are giving thought to the different options that are available in this regard. I hope, in the not too distant future, to bring to the Government a proposal with regard to process. I expect that proposal will come to the Government before the Dáil goes into recess for the summer. Once a procedure has been adopted, we will then process matters further.
I discovered upon entering Government that despite the fact that the previous White Paper was envisaged to apply over a ten-year period, limited, if any, direction had been given to my departmental officials with regard to the scope or objectives of a new White Paper. That work is only now substantially commencing. As soon as the Government has agreed on the process to be applied, I will ensure the Deputy and the House are informed.
Defence Forces Equipment
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:44 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that there have been no purchases of weapons, ammunition or equipment from the State of Israel since October 2010; his plans to put in place an ethical procurement system for the Defence Forces in which these kinds of materials would not be purchased from Governments involved in systemic human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12052/11]
I am advised that there have not been any such purchases by my Department since October 2010.
The Deputy will appreciate that the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts must be used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the eTenders website or on the European Defence Agency's electronic bulletin board. Such tender competitions are open to any individual company or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargoes or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargoes in place on Israel or Israeli companies. The Irish Government has consistently been opposed to proposals for trade, diplomatic, cultural, academic, sporting or other boycotts of Israel.
The primary purpose of the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces on overseas peace support operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops on such missions.
I am glad to hear there has been no procurement from the State of Israel. I accept what the Minister said about tenders being open to companies from all countries, but does he agree that the question of which tender we accept is ultimately a decision for his Department?
I think the Deputy misheard me. I said there had been no such purchases from the State of Israel since October 2010. Ultimately, there is a tendering process to which there are applicable European Union regulations, and my Department adheres strictly to the prescription provided by the laws that we must observe.