Vol. 749 No. 4
54 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the moneys outstanding from the UN to Ireland in respect of our peacekeeping duties; his views that the appropriate procedures are in place for the efficient collection of that money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38706/11]
The only UN-led mission in which the Defence Forces are currently participating is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL.
The total amount owing to the Department of Defence by the United Nations as of 30 November 2011 in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Forces personnel in UN missions is approximately €11.66 million, including deployment, rotation, troop and equipment costs. The amount owed in respect of the current UNIFIL mission is €4.68 million. Repatriation costs of personnel and equipment from the MINURCAT mission in Chad amount to approximately €6.7 million, subject to ongoing negotiations with the UN. Costs associated with the participation in the UNIFIL mission in 2006-07 amounts to €280,000 and payment from the UN is still awaited.
I am satisfied with the arrangements in place for reimbursement of moneys owed to Ireland by the United Nations. The recovery from the UN of the moneys owed is pursued on an ongoing basis by the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade in conjunction with the permanent mission of Ireland to the UN in New York. To date in 2011 the UN has reimbursed Ireland €1.12 million, mainly in respect of the UNIFIL mission. Following last week's signing of a memorandum of understanding with the UN for Ireland's contribution of Defence Forces personnel and equipment to UNIFIL it is anticipated that an additional €1.8 million will be received from the UN by the end of this month.
I wish our Defence Forces personnel, and particularly those who are serving overseas in UN missions, best wishes for the season and a safe and happy 2012. In the context of our financial circumstances and the need to make every penny count, is there a way of avoiding the situation whereby debts incurred in 2006 are still outstanding so that the moneys owed to us by the UN are paid to us in a timely manner? The Minister of State noted that part of the money owned on one mission is subject to an ongoing dispute. Are these payment issues not agreed prior to the deployment of personnel?
In any case where money is owed, there will always be negotiations. That is what is happening at present in respect of the mission to Chad. I assure the Deputy that all debts will be collected and the Department is working vigorously to this end.
55 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence, further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 21 September 2011, the further progress that has been made with the value for money review of the Defence Forces; when he expects this review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38673/11]
A value for money review, VFM, of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. In the interim period the EU-IMF deal was signed. The requisite fiscal consolidation which was a part of this deal has a direct bearing on the level of resourcing available for the Defence Forces. This in turn is linked to the framing of future plans for the organisation of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force. In response to the economic difficulties, the level of resourcing available for the Defence Forces has decreased, which has impacted the broader organisation, including the resources available for the Reserve Defence Force. There have been significant reductions in paid training and recruitment has been curtailed in line with these reductions.
The Government's comprehensive review of expenditure, CRE, was the mechanism for determining the resource envelope for the Defence Forces over the coming years. The CRE process has presented two challenges to the progression of the VFM review of the Reserve Defence Force. First, members of the team undertaking the VFM review were asked to prioritise the CRE. Second, it was not feasible to isolate proposals for the Reserve Defence Force until the resource envelope for the Defence Forces for the coming years was made known in budget 2012 following the completion of the CRE. Accordingly, while work has been ongoing, it was not feasible to identify options for the future development of the Reserve pending clarity on the broader resource envelope.
Significant challenges lie ahead within the reduced resource envelope. As part of the response to the downsizing of the PDF to 9,500 personnel, a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces, encompassing a reduction from three to two Army brigades, will be undertaken. This will also affect the Reserve Defence Force. The Chief of Staff and Secretary General are to provide detailed proposals in this regard for consideration. In effect, the work on the VFM review of the RDF has been overtaken by broader events. The VFM steering committee will now consider the way ahead in light of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces and the budgetary provision. Clearly, the future plans for the Reserve must dovetail with those for the overall defence organisation.
I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response and note his statement that the value for money review has been overtaken by budgetary and economic constraints. Could he give any indication of when the Green Paper on defence might be published? This is linked to the future of the Reserve Defence Force. In addition, can he tell us when the new role of the value for money review might be made available?
I will find out when the Green Paper will be available and pass the information on to the Deputy. As the Deputy understands, when the funding envelope of the Permanent Defence Force is reduced, this must be mirrored in the Reserve Defence Force. The Deputy asked about the funding available. The envelope available to the Defence Forces for 2012 was reported in last week's budget. There will be changes; I am not able to say what they will be, but they will involve consultation with the Reserve Defence Force.
I am glad there will be consultation with the Reserve Defence Force. Can the Minister of State assure the House that the future of the Reserve Defence Force will be guaranteed in some form? There were reports that it might be abolished or done away with completely. Can he assure the House this is not the case?
I can assure the Deputy there are no plans to abolish the Reserve Defence Force. The proposals regarding the future development of the Reserve Defence Force arising from the value for money review and the wider reorganisation proposals for the Defence Forces as a whole will be introduced in due course. I assure the Deputy there will be consultation with everybody involved, but there are no plans to abolish the Reserve Defence Force. As the Deputy knows, the Reserve plays an important role within our community and within the Defence Forces, as many of the new recruits go on to be full-time Defence Forces personnel.
With regard to the value for money review, we must consider the whole portfolio of buildings, including the barracks that have been closed, and their value to communities, especially when they are in prime locations in the middle of towns. I see them as having a multi-functional purpose for the benefit of communities. When Longford barracks closed back in 2008, I made a commitment to the people of Longford that I would do everything in my power to ensure that an alternative use was found for the building. The town council and the county council asked the Midland Regional Authority to prepare a comprehensive feasibility study and an action group was set up.
The Deputy should table a separate question on that.
We came up with a multi-functional purpose for the building. I am glad the Minister has agreed to sell it to both local authorities. We cannot lose sight of the value of these structures to the community. They are mainly located in the centre of towns. I am anxious to ensure that any of the barracks that have been closed will not be sold to a developer who will sit on it for 20 years and allow the site in the centre of the town to become derelict. There should be time constraints for the development of sites.
It is a separate issue and the Deputy should put down a separate question.
With regard to the Reserve Defence Forces, will the proposed reorganisation of the Defence Forces from three to two brigades include recommendations relating to a similar reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces?
To reply to Deputy O'Brien first, when there are changes in the Permanent Defence Force, there are generally changes within the Reserve Defence Force. No proposals have been brought forward and the Minister has not made a formal proposal on that. Realistically, however, if there are changes to the Permanent Defence Force, there will be other changes. I am not saying what the changes will be and I hope the Deputy will not say outside the Chamber that the Minister said X, Y and Z, but one must mirror the changes. I am not aware of what the changes will be but perhaps the Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter——
Will it form part of the Chief of Staff's report?
I presume the Minister will take that into consideration when he is making a decision.
On Deputy Bannon's point about the value for money review, I can assure him that the Minister is very aware of the important role the buildings and structures play in the community. Every alternative use will be examined and the Minister will take account of any proposal when considering the future of the closed barracks. Deputy Bannon was affected by the barracks closure in Mullingar. If there are any proposals for the Longford barracks which the Deputy might wish to bring to the Minister's attention, I am sure he will be open to considering them. All security arrangements will be fulfilled, and the barracks in Cavan, Mullingar and Clonmel will be secured by the Department and the Defence Forces in a very professional way.
56 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence his views regarding the threat that the Defence Forces would be used to carry out the work of firefighters in County Roscommon who are in dispute with management regarding changes to their working conditions; and if he will ensure that the army is not used in any industrial dispute. [38610/11]
Last month, in the context of an ongoing dispute between the local authority fire service and a number of its retained fire fighters, a request was received by my Department, in accordance with procedures in place, from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for the Defence Forces to provide assistance to Roscommon County Council in the maintenance of essential fire services. While Defence Forces personnel were made available for deployment, they were not called upon as the Roscommon County Council fire service was able to deal with all call-outs from within its own available resources. The Defence Forces operation was stood down following settlement of the dispute on 2 December last.
The White Paper on Defence provides for a role for the Defence Forces in assisting the civil authorities in the maintenance of essential services. As the local authority concerned was in dispute with personnel who provide what is clearly an essential service, I can confirm absolutely that the Defence Forces, if called upon, would have responded to all requests for assistance from the local authority fire service.
This question should have arisen last week; the dispute has been resolved since then. There is no doubt that the Defence Forces were used, actively and consciously, in an effort to undermine the fire fighters in the course of their legitimate dispute with the local authority. Does the Minister think it appropriate that the Defence Forces should be used in this manner? What are the criteria for such intervention and in what other circumstances have they been called on to intervene in this way? The issue centred on retraining and the staff involved are very professional. They had an arrangement with their employer and they were engaged in a legitimate dispute. Undoubtedly, using the State forces gave the local authority an advantage. It is akin to bully boy tactics and I am not happy that my tax revenue is being used to undermine a group of workers.
I would imagine that Defence Forces staff have also been at the receiving end of a lot of bad Government decisions and would not like to be used in that way against other workers. I ask the Minister of State to address whether he thinks it is appropriate and what specific criteria are involved when the Defence Forces are called in to act in that regard. In how many other similar instances have they been called upon?
I can assure the Deputy that the Defence Forces undermined nobody's authority. They were called upon on an emergency basis, which I very much welcome. That is their role. I have no doubt that if firefighters in the Deputy's constituency were on strike and her house went on fire she would very much welcome, in the event of the county council not being available to put out the fire, the Defence Forces being able to do so.
The Defence Forces are there to be called upon in such circumstances. It has happened on other occasions. The most recent instances in which they have provided assistance or have been on standby to assist in maintaining essential services during industrial disputes was in 2002 when assistance was provided to Dublin City Council during the Ballymun lifts dispute. In 2003 assistance was provided to Donegal County Council during threatened industrial action by the Northern Ireland fire services. In 2002 they were on standby for a threatened national strike involving retained firefighters. In 2002 and 2003 assistance was provided to the midlands and south-eastern health boards during ambulance disputes. In 2004 defence forces medical doctors provided assistance to the Irish Prison Service during a medical doctors strike. In 2005 it was on standby to provide assistance to the Irish Prison Service in the event of a strike by prison officers. In 2007 it was on standby for a threatened strike by retained firefighters in Ennis, County Clare. In 2010 assistance was provided to Dublin City Council during the Ballymun lift dispute.
It is a civic duty of the Defence Forces that if such disputes arise they come into play. They will respond to all requests for assistance from any local authority, fire service or health service. They carry out their training in a very professional manner to be ready and able to assist.
We are all aware of how capable the Defence Forces are, but so is the fire service. The fact that the Minister of State could recount seven incidents in the course of almost ten years demonstrates that this is an unusual situation. Firefighters were in dispute in my constituency last year, and I would support them as I do the people in Roscommon. The workers made arrangements.
The fact that the armed forces were not called upon to intervene in the dispute is confirmation of the fact that workers had sorted out the situation. They were being treated unfairly vis-à-vis other groups of workers by the State being actively used in order to undermine their legitimate dispute. I take it, based on the comments of the Minister of State, that he intends to carry on in that regard. Can any other agencies, apart from local authorities, invoke this procedure or is it only at their behest?
That is the Deputy's stance on the issue. It is about saving lives if they are requested to do so, as well as safety and emergencies. The Deputy is entitled to her opinion but it would not be the opinion of many outside the House. They want emergency services available to them, whether it is the Defence Forces or others.
I can assure the Deputy that nobody's authority was undermined. The Defence Forces were asked to provide cover for firefighters in Roscommon. They do not get involved in the technical end of any dispute. They simply carry out duties. I mentioned a number of areas where the Defences Forces were used since 2002. I can assure the Deputy that they will continue to be available if the circumstances arise.
Is it only local authorities who have the power?
No, the health services can also call on them.
57 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Defence the total cost for the provision of two new offshore patrol vessels for the Naval Service. [38662/11]
The contract price for the provision of two new offshore patrol vessels for the Naval Service is €99 million, exclusive of VAT, and subject to contract terms and final agreed costs. In addition, the cost of providing a weapons system for the ships, similar to the systems on LE Roisin and LE Niamh, will be €7.8 million, exclusive of VAT. The contract for the two ships was placed with Babcock Marine UK in October 2010. Payments on the contract are scheduled over a period of eight years, 2010-17, and are being funded from within the annual defence budget.
A total of €38.7 million has been paid over to date on the contract, including VAT payments to the Revenue Commissioners. The next stage payment of €12 million is scheduled before the end of March 2012 with an accompanying VAT liability of €2.7 million falling payable.
Preparations for the construction of the ships have commenced in Appledore, UK, and the first cutting of steel took place in November. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second ship will follow one year later. I am advised that the production schedule is on time and in accordance with the contract and that to date there are no difficulties foreseen.
The acquisition of these modern new vessels is a priority for the Defence Forces. The Deputy should note that Naval Service vessels are replaced when they have come to the end of their useful life, which is normally around 30 years. These acquisitions, combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair, will ensure that the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a satisfactory level in the coming years.
The two new ships are set to replace the LE Roisin and the LE Niamh. The first one is due in early 2014. Are there any other outstanding requests from the navy for equipment which we are unable to meet because of the new economic situation in which we find ourselves?
I am not aware of any outstanding equipment for which the Naval Service is waiting. I am not sure if the Minister, Deputy Shatter, has been made aware of any such request. I can assure the Deputy that the two new ships will be put to very good use. They are needed within the Naval Service. We are all aware of the excellent work it carries out on a daily basis in very difficult and dangerous circumstances, for which it has to be commended. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in early 2014 and the second will follow in early 2015. I can assure the Deputy that any moneys spent have been spent very wisely by the Naval Service.
Can I confirm that €12 million is due in 2012?
Yes, the next staged payment is €12 million and is scheduled for the end of March 2012, with an accompanying VAT liability of €2.7 million falling payable.
The LE Eithne and LE Deirdre are being replaced, not the LE Roisin and LE Niamh. They are the new ships. Conditions in the Atlantic have become harsher and more difficult over the past number of years. The Naval Service provides a very important function in terms of fishery protection, drug detection, rescue and combatting human trafficking, among other functions. Its work often takes place over the horizon and is not seen.
Its work is essential and must be supported 100%. Will the Minister of State indicate when the next two ships are planned to be replaced?
I am not certain when the next two ships are planned for replacement. However, as a person from a coastal county myself, I assure the Deputy that I am mindful of the very important job carried out by the Naval Service. The Taoiseach recently travelled on one of the naval vessels and was greatly impressed by the extensive work carried out and the important nature of that work, whether in fisheries, drug interceptions or otherwise. The general public is probably not aware of the extent of the work carried out by the Naval Service. On a recent visit to Haulbowline, at which Deputy Stanton was in attendance, I was very impressed by the duty and dedication to their work of the staff, who conduct themselves in a very professional manner in sometimes difficult and dangerous circumstances at sea.
I endorse everything the Minister of State and Deputy Stanton said in regard to the Naval Service. I commend Commander Mark Mellet and everybody involved. Given the role the Naval Service plays in fisheries protection and in drug seizures on an EU basis, is any contribution being made from the EU to the cost of these ships?
A sum of €900,000 was recently approved for that purpose and paid by the Commission. It is unlikely that further funding will be available from the EU, but this will not deter the Department or the Naval Service from seeking further moneys. I assure the Deputy that we will seek to maximise any funding possibilities that arise. When buying ships or other equipment, we will always investigate any financial assistance that might be available. I join Deputy Calleary in commending his fellow countyman, Commander Mellet, on his work at Haulbowline.
58 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Defence the capital projects he intends to undertake during 2012. [38691/11]
The gross capital provision for my Department and the Defence Forces for the coming year, as set out in the recently published Estimates for Public Services 2012, is €9 million. The Estimates also provide for a carryover from 2011 of €500,000. Some €2.8 million of the capital budget has been allocated to provide for the upgrade and replacement of existing information technology hardware and associated licensing support costs. The balance of the provision, amounting to some €6.7 million, has been allocated to the building programme for the Defence Forces. One of the key objectives of the building programme is the modernisation and enhancement of the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces.
Approximately €2.1 million of the allocation for 2012 will be expended on building projects already under way, with the balance available for new building projects in 2012, including any works that may be necessary arising from the recent decision to close a number of barracks. Projects already under way include the provision of an automated firing range at Kilworth Camp, County Cork, and of additional facilities for Defence Forces personnel at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk.
Proposed construction projects under the building programme for 2012 are currently being assessed. My Department maintains a master list of projects for development. This is reviewed periodically based on current needs and priority projects are identified. Projects to be undertaken are approved based on the outcome of a capital appraisal exercise in each case.
It is envisaged that in 2012 new-start construction projects will include a new aircraft hangar in Casement Aerodrome, phase one of the replacement of buildings at the ammunition depot in the Defence Forces training centre and the provision of a further automated firing range.
What projects were deleted from the capital investment list as part of the cutbacks in the capital budget? Investment will be required in several barracks in order to cater for the intake of personnel from the barracks which are to be closed. Has the scope of that work been identified and is there a target date for its completion?
There will be a minimum amount spent in upgrading the consolidated barracks. We are not yet certain exactly what investment will be required as the process of consolidation is still in the very early stages. I do not have detailed information on capital projects cancelled or postponed. There has been significant capital investment in different areas in recent years.
Did the Minister of State refer to an investment of €2.8 million in the upgrade of information technology hardware?
Yes, €2.8 million from the capital budget has been allocated to provide for the upgrade and replacement of existing hardware and associated licensing support costs.
Does the Minister of State have a breakdown of the licensing costs as distinct from the hardware costs?
I will send that information to the Deputy.
59 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent he and his EU colleagues bilaterally or in conjunction with the UN have had discussions in the matter of peacekeeping or peace-enforcement deployment throughout Europe or elsewhere; if any particular models have been examined or reviewed with the objective of ensuring sufficient troop deployment with a view to emergency response in adequate numbers in the event of the necessity arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38671/11]
345 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has discussed with his EU colleagues in the matter of any ongoing requirements arising from a rapid response force for any particular locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39484/11]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 345 together.
During each EU Presidency both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held. Last month the Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter, attended the formal Defence Ministers' meeting under the auspices of the Foreign Affairs Council. The operation commanders from the current EU-led missions were also in attendance. Discussions were focused on these current operations and future proposed developments. Ministers also received an update on ongoing work regarding the EU's relationship with other organisations, including the United Nations and NATO. Regarding the relationship with the UN, Ministers discussed how to enhance EU support to UN peacekeeping operations.
In this regard, Ireland last year produced a food for thought paper on enhancing EU-UN co-operation in crisis management, which was circulated to EU member states and discussed in various fora. The paper highlights several options as to how the EU, as part of its ongoing Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, capability development process, might identify niche or modular capabilities developed for CSDP crisis management operations, which could be made available and fully integrated into UN-led "blue hat" crisis management operations. The EU's Crisis Management and Planning Directorate, CMPD, has further elaborated on Ireland's initiative. Consultations have been ongoing between the EU and the UN regarding possibilities for enhancing EU CSDP support to UN peacekeeping.
Following on from this consultation process, the EU has set out in a paper several possible actions which could enhance EU-UN cooperation. These include the EU facilitating co-ordinated member state contributions to the UN; the EU providing a component to a UN operation, civilian or military; an EU autonomous civilian deployment in support of UN operations; and an EU autonomous military deployment in support of UN operations. Further analysis of these concepts will be undertaken by the various committees in the EU early next year.
In regard to rapid response, the EU has the capability to deploy forces at high readiness, broadly based on the battle groups concept. The purpose of these battle groups is to provide a rapid level of response to developing international crises, allowing the EU to intervene during the critical early stages. To date, no particular location has been identified as suitable for the deployment of a battle group.
Participation in battle groups is just one of a number of ways in which Ireland contributes to the EU's CSDP. We have participated in the Nordic battle group, which was on standby until 30 June 2011. In 2010 the Government approved Ireland's participation in the Austro-German battle group, which will be on standby for the second six months of 2012. The other members of the Austro-German battle group are Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Within the EU itself, several committees, including the Political and Security Committee and the EU Military Committee, keep the issue of troop deployments, including rapid response, under constant review, in consultation with all member states.
60 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the number of permanent members of the Defence Forces to 9,500. [38656/11]
I think we have dealt with this question earlier.
Yes, I agree.
61 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Defence the outstanding matters in the Defence Forces medical services review to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38655/11]
PA Consultants recommended a programme of major change in relation to Defence Forces medical services. As recommended by the consultants, a number of working groups were set up to progress the various change projects identified. The working groups were tasked with identifying the practical steps which needed to be taken to achieve implementation of the PA vision for the future medical service. The work of these working groups has been completed and a time-bound implementation plan has been drawn up by the officer commanding the new central medical unit to implement the recommendations of the working groups.
A number of the recommendations of the working groups which the plan will implement include a training and development programme for medical personnel, information technology developments, clinical care developments and financial re-organisation.
The central medical unit will be formally established in early 2012. Its establishment will enable the detailed structures, processes and personnel to be put in place within the central medical unit to provide for the support, management and delivery of modern medical services. This new central medical unit will bring all medical personnel under one central command. It will have responsibility for the management and delivery of medical services, including the allocation of medical resources across the system based on operational requirements and demands.
The central medical unit implementation plan has four high level goals. These are to maximise the medical readiness, health and fitness of Defence Forces personnel; to manage and deliver high quality, efficient, effective health care; to maintain a medical capability that can be deployed with flexibility and inter-operability; and to provide expert advice on the provision of medical care and support in a military setting to the general staff.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
While it is at the very early stages of implementation, progress has been made on a number of recommendations, such as the provision of a single annual medical to cover all home and overseas requirements, a recruitment campaign for the appointment of medical doctors to deliver the recommended doctor centred medical service, scoping in relation to the development of the patient medical information system, the appointment of the officer commanding the central medical unit, a study into the potential for external medical services provision, the review of conventional military medical requirement, the establishment of a high level implementation group and the preparation of an implementation plan.
While I have already stated implementation is at an early stage, the detailed implementation plan provides a road map for further progress to be made with many of the other recommendations, such as those relating to the delivery of clinical services, the organisation and establishment of the future medical service, the separation of administration and clinical functions, financial and outsourcing arrangements and training and development.
I am happy with that answer. We were waiting for one working group to complete its recommendations and now that this is completed I welcome the establishment of the central medical unit in early 2012. It will be of great benefit to the Defence Forces.
I agree with Deputy O'Brien as to the benefits for the Defence Forces.
The Minister, Deputy Shatter, recently highlighted the difficulties in recruiting doctors for the Army. I note an advertisement was placed in the national newspapers a few weeks ago. What has been the response to that advertisement?
The Deputy will be aware there has been a difficulty in recruiting doctors not only for the Defence Forces but also for the health service. I will revert to the Deputy with updated information on the recruitment of doctors for the Army.
62 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that capacity is available at Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath to cater for additional personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38439/11]
There is sufficient accommodation in Custume Barracks, Athlone, to provide for personnel relocating from the barracks in Cavan and Mullingar who choose to live in barracks. These personnel will be accommodated in the separate male and female billet blocks currently situated within Custume Barracks. Mess, dining and other welfare facilities will also be available to these personnel from existing facilities at Custume Barracks. Work-related accommodation will also be put in place before personnel relocate.
