I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the committee to assist in its consideration of the Revised Estimates and the 2009 annual output statement of the Department of Defence. I am accompanied by the Secretary General, Mr. Michael Howard, and other officials from the Department. I have circulated a copy of my opening statement which I will go through quickly. That is probably the best way to begin proceedings.
The annual output statement outlines the performance of the Department in 2009 and the targets to be achieved in 2010. While the 2009 outturn is based on activity levels throughout the year, the Estimates for 2010 reflect activity levels anticipated at the beginning of the year. As such, the statement does not refer to changes that have occurred during the year, for example, the return of the mission to Chad.
The combined Estimates for 2010 provide for gross expenditure of €965 million, including a capital carryover of €1 million. In 2009 gross expenditure was €1.013 billion, including a carryover of €3 million. We all understand the financial situation is such that it is not possible to provide the level of resources previously available. However, the Defence Forces are in a healthy state to meet the challenges posed by the reduced financial allocations which have been improved in every respect since 2000. The year 2010 will undoubtedly be difficult, but I have absolute confidence that the defence organisation will rise to the challenge. We are already accustomed to doing more with less and the Department and the Defence Forces have proved themselves capable in this regard. At this juncture, I record my thanks to all members of the defence organisation and the Department on their success so far.
On provision for pay and allowances, there is provision for up to 10,000 Permanent Defence Force personnel. A total of 770 civilians and 360 civil servants are employed with the Defence Forces. It also provides for the pay of members of the reserve while on full-time training.
On the pension side, the Estimate provides for payment of 10,000 service related pensions and 1,100 disability related benefits. The strength of the Defence Forces on 31 May was 9,809. Arising from the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes there is provision for 10,000, and recruitment is under way in that regard. Currently, recruitment is under way for 40 recruits to enable the Naval Service, and limited general recruitment to the Army will be advertised shortly.
A review of structures and posts is under way and that will be the subject of discussions with the Department of Finance to agree the employment control framework for the Defence Forces.
While these are challenging times my priority is to ensure the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed in a manner which will ensure they can continue to deliver the services required of them by Government.
There is a commitment in the renewed programme for Government to having a new White Paper on Defence prepared for the period 2011 to 2020. It is planned to submit a new draft White Paper for Government approval in spring of next year. This new White Paper will build on the previous one published in 2000. This has guided the modernisation, reform and transformation of the Defence Force organisation during that time.
The new White Paper will chart a course for the continued development of the Defence Forces organisation. Preliminary work has commenced and I hope to be in a position to bring a memorandum to Government in the not too distant future.
There has been a significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the past ten yeas. I have seen at first hand the fruits of that investment, and it is undoubtedly the case that the modern equipment available to Irish soldiers means they are now second to none in terms of the equipment available to them. It is imperative the Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make, taking into account the current difficult environment and the overall financial envelope, but I am sure we will be able to do it and in that context the acquisition of defensive equipment will be on a prioritised basis to match operational capabilities and requirements.
Several important equipment purchases are being advanced in 2010, including the acquisition of the 27 light tactical armoured vehicles, LTAVs, 45 4x4 patrol vehicles, two heavy recovery vehicles, 22 minibuses, two ambulances and four midi-coaches. Some of those have already been delivered.
With regard to the LTAVs, their acquisition has been a top priority for the Defence Forces, given the extensive nature of their roles on overseas peace support missions, particularly from the threat of improvised explosive devices and the potential for hostile fire in certain threat environments. Seventeen of them have been delivered and a further ten will be delivered during the early autumn.
Regarding the vessel replacement programme, it has been in progress following the commencement of a tender competition in 2007. The competition sought tenders for the purchase of two offshore patrol vessels, OPVs, with an option for a third, and one extended patrol vessel, with an option for a second.
As regards the OPVs, a preferred bidder was selected last year following tender evaluation and contract negotiations have taken place. The vessel replacement programme was considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This included consideration of the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes. In that regard, the particular recommendation in the report was that the programme be extended over a longer timeframe than initially envisaged. Subject to Government approval being granted, delivery of the new vessels would now be expected to commence on a phased basis from 2014.
The acquisition of new ships for the Naval Service is a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Modern new vessels are necessary to ensure the Naval Service will be fully equipped to carry out its day to day roles in enforcing the State's sovereign rights over our waters and our fisheries and meeting Ireland's obligation in the area of maritime safety and security and fisheries protection.
As I said, along with the extensive investment in Defence Forces equipment we have also made substantial investment in infrastructure, accommodation and training facilities. Major projects were completed in various barracks including McKee, Casement Aerodrome, the Naval Base in Haulbowline and Renmore Barracks in Galway. That is continuing in 2010, including in the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh, Collins Barracks and Finner Camp.
Regarding the reserve, the RDF review implementation plan has provided for the phased enhancement of reserve capabilities over the period to the end of 2009. As we have reached the end of the planned timeframe, there is a requirement to review progress and chart the future direction of the reserve. As members will be aware, the value for money review is ongoing. The steering committee has informed me it will be engaging in stakeholder consultation in the coming weeks and months. The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, as a key stakeholder, will be involved in the consultative process. It is anticipated that this review, coupled with the lessons learned from the implementation plan, will inform the development of future plans for the reserve.
Regarding the European Union, with the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty on 1 December 2009 the EU's European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP, has been renamed the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. That is an integral part of the EU's Common Foreign Policy. Ireland's participation in the framework of CSDP takes place within the context of our commitment to the primacy of the United Nations and the maintenance of international peace and security. Within that framework, the ambition of the EU is to be able to respond rapidly to emerging crises, and that continues to be a key objective of the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy.
Ireland's participation in the development and evolution of CSDP is fully consistent with our policy of military neutrality and our commitment to international peace and security. Obviously, it also enhances our position on the international stage.
The Lisbon treaty makes some amendments to existing provisions on security and defence but does not alter their essential features. It is appropriate to mention at this time that Ireland's traditional policy on military neutrality is completely unaffected by the ratification of the Lisbon treaty. First, the Lisbon treaty states that national security remains the sole responsibility of each member state. Second, all decisions must be taken by unanimity, which means that, de facto, Ireland has a veto. The Lisbon treaty provides for common defence arrangements. However, the adoption of such an arrangement would require the unanimous approval of all the member states.
Furthermore, the main priority in the area of CSDP is the improvement of the EU's capability to undertake the agreed range of tasks to meet the objectives of the 2010 headline goal and the most high profile aspect of that is the decision of the EU to acquire the capacity to deploy force packages at high readiness - commonly known as battle groups - in response to a crisis. The EU achieved full operational capacity to undertake two battle group sized rapid response operations concurrently on 1 January 2007.
In 2009, the Government approved Ireland's participation in the Nordic battlegroup. Other contributors are Sweden, which acts as a framework nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The Nordic battlegroup will be on stand-by for six months commencing on 1 January next and Sweden, as the framework nation, will take the lead role. A total of 150 Defence Forces personnel will be involved in the Nordic battlegroup in 2011. However, the level of commitment will only arise should the battle group be called on to undertake an operation. The number of personnel involved leading up to and during the stand-by period, where the battle group has not been mobilised to undertake an operation, will be of the order of 15. These personnel, who will be mainly staff officers and NCOs engaged in training and planning activities, will be split between the respective operational and force headquarters.
Ireland continues to participate in the framework of the European Defence Agency. It is important to note that such participation does not impose any specific obligations on Ireland other than a contribution to the budget of the agency. As part of the Lisbon treaty package, it was agreed that participation by Ireland in any specific project or programme of the agency will be subject to Government and Dáil approval.
On overseas missions, Ireland is currently contributing 167 Defence Forces personnel to 12 different missions. Our current contribution to overseas missions has reduced dramatically when compared with 1 January 2010 when we had 758 Defence Forces personnel deployed overseas. The reduction is mainly arising from the withdrawal from Chad in May of 400 Irish personnel serving with the MINURCAT mission. Also, the KFOR in Kosovo was reduced in April 2010 following the drawdown of Irish personnel from 232 to approximately 40.
The reduction in Ireland's participation in KFOR was designed to deliver savings in line with the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. However, in regard to Chad, entirely different circumstances were at play and I have previously explained those circumstances to the Dáil. Ireland's early termination of the mission was regrettable and an undesirable development as we had planned on being in Chad until March 2012. It was not a decision we wanted to have to make. My preference would have been to continue to participate fully in the MINURCAT mission. However, events since the decision was made have reinforced the Government's decision because the new resolution regarding Chad, which was adopted on 25 May, has changed the character of the mission significantly. Under the new mandate the Government of Chad assumes full responsibility for the protection of civilians, a responsibility that was originally assigned to the military component of MINURCAT. It is my considered view that the future role for this mission, with the absence of any civilian protection remit by the UN force, creates an unsatisfactory position on the ground and is not the type of mission in which Ireland would wish to participate.
It had also been decided to drawdown in July 2010 the Defence Forces contingent serving with EUFOR's Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We subsequently got a request to continue that, to which we acceded. That has meant that mission will continue to the end of the year.
Our latest contribution to an overseas mission has been the deployment, in April 2010, of five members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, based in Uganda. The objective of that mission, which was launched in April of this year, is to contribute to the training of Somali security forces. I have no doubt there will be further invitations for deployment of Irish forces, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is important to point out that when considering any request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are among the many factors taken into account. There are no such requests on hand at present.
I want to briefly mention the office of emergency planning. The Government task force on emergency planning continues to meet regularly. The task force comprises Ministers and-or senior officials from all Departments and key public authorities and its role is to improve co-ordination of emergency planning across Government and to share information and best practice. Among the issues addressed by the task force in the past year include influenza pandemic, aviation security, the severe weather events that occurred in late 2009 with flooding and early 2010 with snow and ice, and the volcanic ash plume crisis. Every meeting of the task force receives an update from the chair of the national steering group on the implementation of the framework for major emergency management. The task force also receives regular reports of the security threat analysis from the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. It also operates the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre, which is considered to be very successful.
Oversight is an important part of the work of the office of emergency planning. Each year the Minister submits an annual report to Government on emergency planning that provides a summary of the most significant issues during the year. Bilateral meetings are held with all Departments to discuss emergency planning activities and this helps to provide the report with an overview of the main developments.
In regard to decentralisation, approximately 180 civil servants and 50 military personnel will relocate to Newbridge in the coming months. There had originally been a plan to have the Defence Forces headquarters at the Curragh. This location, along with a number of other deferred locations, will be considered as part of the overall review of the decentralisation programme in 2011.
Material on the various subheads has been submitted separately as has the annual output statement and, if the Chairman wishes, we can proceed on that basis.
