Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2004
12 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Defence Forces have adequate resources and capability in the event of a land, sea or air borne terrorist attack, with particular reference to the need to scramble aircraft in an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24040/04]
View answerThe most important defence against terrorist attacks is detection and prevention by the security forces. While the Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána. The various components of the Defence Forces are active in this regard, providing such assistance as is appropriate in specific circumstances.
The level of any terrorist threat to Ireland is continually assessed. The advice available to me would suggest that while the terrorist threat to Europe is currently high, for Ireland it is low. However, it is prudent that we take precautions and keep matters under continuous review.
The Defence Forces make contingency plans for a range of scenarios where the State may be at risk. An urgent and detailed review to deal with a range of emergency situations was undertaken by the military authorities following the events of 11 September. It included, inter alia, an update of the threat assessment, intensive contacts with other State agencies, a reassessment of operations orders relating to vital installations, alert systems, the Army ranger wing, ordnance and engineer aspects in terms of explosive ordnance disposal and specialist search and a review of equipment including the need for air defence. All matters arising were addressed and all procedures updated as required.
The assets available to the Defence Forces are related to the level of threat and are considered appropriate in this regard. Air defence capability requires the integrated use of aircraft, radar and air and ground-based weapons systems. The Defence Forces have a limited ground-to-air capacity. That has always been the position. The new Pilatus trainer aircraft will enhance the airborne elements of our air defence capability. However, we will still continue to operate a limited air-to-air and air-to-ground defence capability.
It would be inappropriate of me to go into specific details about the readiness, deployment arrangements or the speed of deployment or re-deployment of defence assets. However, I can confirm that all Air Corps aircraft have adequate numbers of operationally trained air crew who can operate from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, which is available on a 24 hour basis where required. The shortest scramble time applicable in the Air Corps in certain circumstances is two minutes.
The two minute part is very impressive but the preamble worries me. To what extent is the Minister satisfied that adequate resources and equipment are available to the Air Corps and the rest of the Defence Forces in the event of a surprise terrorist attack? On whom can the Minister and the Defence Forces rely for assistance in the event of such an attack, particularly for prior warning, thereby giving the Defence Forces time to get into the air or to make the necessary preparations?
The primary responsibility in the event of a terrorist attack lies with the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces would come in response to a request for assistance. We have a limited air defence capacity but the events of 11 September showed that countries that spend a fortune on air defence cannot guarantee protection. Small countries do not spend resources that could be used for other things on air defences for that simple reason, although Israel is an exception to that. The money we spend on air defence is related to our assessment of the terrorist threat, which is currently low.
Countries like ours that cannot afford a huge air defence system like the United States or Britain have a simple choice. We either have a token air defence system or we have a range of tasks that can be performed in certain situations in a professional way and we have gone for the latter option. We have our own early warning systems. In the event of a foreign, air-borne terrorist threat to this country, our near neighbours would be on high alert because they would also feel threatened.
Our near neighbours are already on red alert. No less an authority than Commissioner Sir John Stevens of the Metropolitan Police has stated that it is not a question of if but when there is a major attack on London or the UK. Does the Minister agree that Sellafield could be a prime target? What preparations have we engaged in to prevent anything coming from that direction? Iodine tablets have been distributed but what other preparations have been made? Does the Minister agree that these terrorists look for a soft target and that Shannon Airport may be attractive to them? When the UK is on red alert we cannot take anything for granted.
Does the Minister agree that a land attack is more likely than a sea or air attack? Does he believe there are terrorist operatives in this country and is he co-operating with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this? Are those people being observed? What is the state of readiness in intelligence terms?
Is it true that none of the aircraft that were delivered recently are equipped with any type of armaments, including the minimum available, which would be the equivalent of pea shooters in modern warfare, and that we depend for our defence on the goodwill we have built up over the years which has been damaged by our complicity in the war in Iraq?
Staff Lieutenant General Jim Sreenan has stated that the Army should prepare for a dirty bomb attack. According to him, the major concern would be an attack similar to that which took place in Madrid. Other European countries have strengthened their security and we must be seen to do the same. What action has been taken to do this?
To answer Deputy Sherlock first, I have already outlined the very considerable expenditure on training, equipment and infrastructure which the Government has engaged in over the past several years. A system is currently in place which all the military advice available to me suggests is as good as we can have in the circumstances. Procedures are in place in the event of a terrorist attack. I chair an emergency task force which will deal with the fall-out from a particular situation. For obvious reasons I will not divulge too many details about the action to be taken in that situation. The Deputy can rest assured that procedures are in place and it is my hope that we will never have to use them.
The Minister should not keep it a secret too long.
In answer to Deputy Gormley's question about specific terrorist operatives, these matters are always kept under review. There is constant contact between the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and a coherent approach is taken in respect of any known or suspected terrorist who may be operating on Irish soil.
Are they operating here?
We are over time on this question. We must proceed to the next question.
Are they operating in this country, to the Minister's knowledge?
Does the scramble time of two minutes include loading the guns?
The scramble time is two minutes and, as I stated, the new aircraft will be armed. On the question of whether terrorists are currently operating in this country, not to my knowledge, but if anything specific requires to be brought to my attention by my Department, I am confident it will do so.
