Priority Questions.
1 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the measures he plans to adopt to address the incidence of bullying, discrimination and all forms of harassment within the Defence Forces, according to the recently published report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, which identified harassment as a serious cause for concern in the forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24514/04]
View answerIn March 2002, Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee group presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, to my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith. The contents and recommendations of the Doyle report were accepted in full.
Action to implement the recommendations of the report has been a priority since that time. The follow-up action was driven by an independent monitoring group established in May 2002 to oversee the implementation of recommendations arising from the report. This group met regularly to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations.
The independent monitoring group's progress report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, was launched by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, on Friday, 24 September 2004. This describes the progress achieved to date since the publication of the original Doyle report in 2002.
The monitoring group has overseen the conduct of a major educational awareness programme throughout the Defence Forces. Considerable progress has been made in the past two years. Firm guiding principles had already been set out in the Defence Forces dignity in the workplace charter.
A new administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships was introduced in March 2003 and a user's guide was distributed to every member of the Defence Forces. The new instruction describes the six key relevant domains of interpersonal relationship within the Defence Forces. It sets out contemporary best practice for policy and procedures in dealing with negative workplace behaviours. It lists the full set of formal and informal complaint procedures that may be utilised by any party wishing to institute a complaint. Some 200 trained designated contact persons are being put in place throughout the organisation to facilitate the operation of these procedures.
An independent and external confidential free telephone helpline and counselling service has been set up by expert consultants from Northern Ireland staff care services. Each serving member of the Permanent Defence Force was informed of this service. A pilot project to record the experiences and views of outgoing members of the Defence Forces was conducted by the Dublin Institute of Technology research centre.
The particular challenges of the military training environment were identified in the Doyle report. This area has been given particular attention in the past two years, especially the key pivotal roles of non-commissioned officers in leadership and training within brigade formations. The monitoring group has made a series of important recommendations concerning the ranking, selection, training and reward systems for officer and NCO instructors in the cadet school. An immediate change in the training regime for cadets will have a vital demonstration effect.
Additional information
It has been decided therefore that the process of introducing these changes will begin with the 2004 cadet intake. Some of the changes will take longer to implement and will be addressed through the conciliation and arbitration process or the overall review of Defence Forces organisation.
The equality steering group was established in autumn 2003 and has conducted its own independent study under a Labour Court chairperson of Defence Forces regulations and administrative instructions, policy and procedures. Its comprehensive audit examined policy and procedures in the light of existing civil statutory requirements such as employment equality and equal status and best civil employment practice.
The Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill completed all Stages in the Dáil in July and has now been introduced to the Seanad. The Bill should pass all Stages before the end of October. The provision of a statutory ombudsman for the Defence Forces will provide a further significant impetus in support of the major transformation in culture and practice which has been initiated and which is now well under way.
The Defence Forces are in the process of developing an active and strategic human resource management model of personnel management, development and leadership under the new integrated personnel management system. This is an important step that will facilitate and hasten the achievement and consolidation of our shared objectives. The tangible end result will be a modern and contemporary Defence Forces that can serve as an international role model.
Every member of the Defence Forces has a right to be treated with respect and dignity and to work within the Defence Forces free from harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination. The monitoring group has explicitly recommended that a further independent review and audit of progress within the Defence Forces be carried out no later than 2007 and that the results should be made public.
I congratulate the Minister on his first official visit to the Dáil in his role as Minister for Defence in answering questions. I hope he has a happy and successful sojourn in that position. I am sure he will understand if I express the hope that it will not be too long and that he may soon be looking at it from this side of the House.
I was delighted the Minister's first official function was last week's PDFORRA conference in Letterkenny, at which I met him briefly. I am sure the Minister is aware of the concerns within PDFORRA at the continuing incidence of bullying and harassment within the Defence Forces. In the context of the response a fortnight ago to the original report which was published two years ago, does the Minister agree there is an ongoing problem when a quarter of all military personnel have experienced bullying and harassment, including almost 70% of the female members of the Defence Forces?
I do not know whether the Minister has yet familiarised himself with the original report, The Challenge of a Workplace, which itemises a litany of serious infringements of individual rights, including some very serious incidents of rape and attempted rape which went unreported; as well as demands for sexual favours, offensive telephone calls, e-mails and text messages; breaking into women's bedrooms, walking into women's shower areas and the display of pornographic material. I do not suggest this has not happened in other areas——
Does the Deputy have a brief question?
However, at least the Defence Forces are facing up to this. Does the Minister agree that if this is allowed to continue it will undermine the team spirit which is so necessary for discipline within the Defence Forces? Will he also indicate if the proposed ombudsman for the Defence Forces will be given a meaningful role in counteracting this activity within the services? Will he further outline the responsibilities of the 200 marshals who were announced in recent weeks to deal with this ongoing problem?
I thank Deputy McGinley for his kind words of congratulations. As to how short or long a time I will be in the Cabinet, I cannot say. However, it is great to have reached this point and, as the former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Denis Healy, said, "it is always better to be a has-been than a never-was".
I agree with Deputy McGinley that the problem to which he referred is ongoing. A number of improvements have been made since the original administrative instruction in 2002 but the problem continues to dog the Defence Forces. While a lot has been done, to paraphrase a certain election manifesto, a lot more needs to be done. A number of initiatives are in place which will improve the situation considerably.
The direct contact persons are the subject of a question from Deputy Sherlock and I will give details of their specific responsibilities in my reply to him. We will take Committee Stage of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002 in the Seanad tomorrow. The ombudsman will have a very meaningful role. He or she will replace the Minister for Defence, or the CIO as is the case at present, as the final court of appeal. Individual members of PDFORRA whom I met last week brought to my attention the fear experienced by some members of enlisted personnel about making a complaint. They are worried about whether such a complaint would be held against them and used to punish them at some time in the future. I am anxious to get around that issue. The 200 designated contact persons will have a vital role to play in that regard. In addition, any attempt to punish or penalise any enlisted person who makes a complaint will be an offence which will be subject to military discipline.
2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he has plans to review the €500 charge levied on Irish troops serving in Liberia who wish to return here for holidays; his views on whether it is acceptable that troops serving in Liberia are advised to purchase for themselves mosquito nets and repellents rather than be supplied with these items as part of the normal equipment given to troops serving in this part of the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/04]
View answerAs the House will be aware, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 435 personnel, is serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, or UNMIL, since December 2003. Defence Forces personnel serving with the mission are entitled to 21 days annual leave for the duration of their tour of duty, which is six months.
I am advised that the average cost of a return commercial scheduled flight ticket Dublin to Monrovia is €1,200. Members of the Irish contingent in Liberia have the opportunity to avail of a subsidised leave flight to Ireland during their tour of duty in Liberia. Arrangements were made by my predecessor to allow personnel serving in Liberia to avail of aircraft chartered for the deployment, consignment and/or repatriation of personnel, stores and equipment to and from the mission area. Access to these flights is made available, space permitting, to personnel who are: availing of leave; travelling to or from the mission area on duty; or being repatriated from the mission area.
In the case of personnel who are availing of the flights for leave purposes, a contribution of €500 is provided by each individual and a mechanism to have the sum deducted at source from the individual's overseas allowance has been agreed with the Department's financial accounts section. There has been a very high uptake of the facility by members of the 90th and 91st infantry battalions to date. Of the 90th infantry battalion, 96.5% of its members availed of the facility. The present battalion, that is the 91st infantry battalion, shows a similar take up. There are no plans at present to alter the current arrangements. However, the matter will be kept under review.
I am advised that all Irish personnel are issued with mosquito nets as well as two types of mosquito repellent, one for application to the mosquito net and the other for normal skin application.
I join my colleague in congratulating the Minister. It is rather extraordinary that Irish soldiers in Liberia who have to travel home are being charged €500 for the trip. That is unfair, as is the suggestion that troops should buy their own mosquito nets and repellent. How can that be justified? If our soldiers are serving abroad and they are charged to come home on holiday, why are they also charged to buy their own mosquito nets and repellents? They are our soldiers serving abroad. I would like to hear the Minister justify that. He answered part of the next part of my question. What provisions are in place for medical cover and care for troops? Is he satisfied that this is adequate? Is he satisfied with the level of accommodation available for troops?
It is quite generous. My predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, made an arrangement that a commercial flight costing €1,200 would be given to people serving in Liberia for €500. That €500 would be deducted from their overseas allowance, which accumulates over the six month period they are there. That is a generous arrangement. When I was in Letterkenny last week, I took the opportunity to speak on an individual basis to various members of PDFORRA about the gripes they had. Not one person mentioned this as a difficulty. I have spoken to the chief of staff about the matter. Army personnel tell me that if someone wants to avail of this arrangement and wants to do it in a less painful manner, such as having the money deducted over a longer time, then the army is disposed to look favourably at arrangements such as this.
With regard to the second part of the question, I do not have to justify a situation whereby people are asked to purchase their own mosquito nets. The simple fact is that they are not asked to do so. I am afraid Deputy Sherlock, whom I thank for his kind words, is misinformed in that regard. The information available to me is that those things are supplied to the troops.
I am well informed that our troops are not supplied with such equipment. That can be verified if the Minister wants to check the position. Will he indicate how long contingents spend in Liberia? How often do personnel serving there have the opportunity to return home, and what procedures are in place to allow them to keep in touch with their families?
I must contradict the Deputy. My information is that the troops are supplied with the relevant protective equipment, mosquito nets etc. They are allowed 21 days' leave during their six-month service period. They can avail of this generous charter flight offer, space permitting. Some 96% of the original brigade availed of it. It appears the uptake among the troops currently serving there will be similar. Nobody has made complaints to me about this matter. If people consider the cost involved could be deducted in another way that would be less painful for the person who has to pay for the flight, we would be well disposed to examining that.
3 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider reviewing the Government’s policy of meeting Defence Force commitments to UNSAS and the EU rapid reaction force from the same pool. [24294/04]
View answerIreland's commitment to the headline goal consists of an offer of up to 850 members of the Defence Forces from within our existing commitment of 850 personnel to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS. I stress that the commitment to the headline goal should not be interpreted as an additional commitment of the Defence Forces to overseas operations. Any new commitments to the 2010 headline goal will be from within these arrangements. I have no plans to change the arrangements for Ireland's contribution to this commitment or the headline goal.
Ireland's commitment to international peacekeeping, humanitarian and crisis management operations represents some 10% of our Army and is not an inconsiderable undertaking by any standard. It is worth noting that 740 members of the Defence Forces are deployed overseas making significant contributions to Kosovo and the United Nations Mission in Liberia. I am delighted the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, will this week meet members of the Defence Forces who have contributed to our proud record of participation on peacekeeping operations overseas.
I preface my question by clearly stating that Sinn Féin believes the UN should and must develop urgently the capacity for genocide prevention. There cannot be a higher priority for the international community to address as a whole.
The Minister referred to the UN Secretary General. On Thursday, the Secretary General will pitch Irish involvement in the new EU rapid deployment battle groups and inform us that he welcomes the outsourcing of UN peacekeeping operations to the EU. The justification for this from his point of view is the urgent need to develop genocide prevention capacity. Does the Minister accept it is no accident the UN's peacekeeping capacity is so weak and that the reason for this is that for decades it has been systematically starved of resources? The EU, which is in a position to change this, has selfishly focused on developing its own capacity and military alliance.
The Brahimi report on peacekeeping operations found that this development has been a significant contribution to the UN's current difficulties. Does the Minister accept that policies such as those of the Department of Defence of failing to prioritise and adequately resource UN-led missions first and foremost is contributing to the erosion of the UN's in-house peacekeeping capacity? Does he accept that we have a responsibility to earmark Defence Forces personnel for UN-led operations to strengthen the capacity lost to regional military alliances, as is happening at present? How can he ignore the significant finding of the Brahimi report on this and that Government policy is contributing to the undermining of the UN system by threatening it with redundancy? Why is the Government, which in the past professed UN primacy as a central tenet of our foreign policy, contributing to the problem rather than seeking to find a solution?
The Government has taken no decision to date on participation or non-participation in the battle group concept to which the Deputy referred. I do not accept there is a widespread conspiracy to deprive the UN of sufficient troops for peacekeeping to allow the EU to develop its capacity. It came to world attention in the early 1990s, especially in the situation in the Balkans, that people can be slaughtered, murdered, raped and attacked on European soil and at that time the European Union had no capacity to do anything about it. The nations of Europe decided collectively that they should get involved in peacekeeping and peacemaking in such circumstances, not only outside Europe but also on European soil. This development is not in competition with UN policy but has occurred in tandem with it and with UN agreement. The UN specifically requested the EU to become involved in some of the missions in which it has become involved latterly, including the mission in Macedonia and the programme in the Congo in 2003, which prevented many innocent civilians being slaughtered and gave breathing space to the UN to allow it establish a permanent force in the region.
As I said in respect of the battle group concept, which is a misnomer and misleading — I will elaborate on this further in response to another question — the reality is that the developments in question are happening not only by agreement with the UN but also at its instigation. I am not aware that the Government is involved in any conspiracy to denude the UN in favour of the EU. All the missions being undertaken by the EU and some missions by NATO are being engaged in at the specific request and by sanction of the UN.
Will the Minister confirm that the troops Ireland has committed to the UN are the same as those committed to the EU Rapid Reaction Force? If 850 are committed to the UN, is it the case that they will not be available to the Rapid Reaction Force, and vice versa?
Yes.
4 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the future role that will be played by the Air Corps in the provision of search and rescue services, in particular in the safety and welfare of coastal and island communities. [24515/04]
View answer76 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of facilities available to the Air Corps air-sea rescue service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24536/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 76 together.
The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps has been providing search and rescue services off the north-west coast but withdrew yesterday following a hand-over of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which currently provides the service at the country's other search and rescue bases at Dublin, Shannon and Waterford.
I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that CHCI will provide continuity of search and rescue service to the coastal, island and seafaring communities in the north west. I understand that the mission list for the Irish Coast Guard's service includes air ambulance, island relief, medevac etc.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department is engaged in a tender competition for the acquisition of six new helicopters for the Air Corps. Their primary role will be that of general purpose military operations and training. Primary tasks will include training and operations with the Army, security and aid to the civil power, military exercises, infantry interoperability training and limited troop transport. However, these helicopters will also be available to perform air ambulance, aid to the civil community and VIP transport tasks. Air Corps personnel will continue to train to provide a limited non-maritime search and rescue capability within the Defence Forces.
The White Paper on Defence establishes the roles of the Defence Forces as including the provision of services to civil authorities as and when required. The Defence Forces have never been found wanting in this regard, particularly in times of floods, forest fires, severe weather conditions or any other emergencies faced by the community. In the event of an emergency request from the Irish Coast Guard or from any other service, the Air Corps will obviously respond to any such request in its usual efficient and supportive manner and to the best of its capability.
After 43 years of being responsible for search and rescue operations, the Air Corps was relieved of that responsibility yesterday afternoon. This brings to an end a glorious chapter in the history of the Air Corps. Not only did it carry out search and rescue missions but it always responded promptly to requests from coastal communities and islands down through the years. Will the Minister give us an undertaking that the new company taking over from the Air Corps will respond in the same manner, always free of charge to the island communities? Is the Minister aware that only the week before last, a seriously ill woman on Tory Island had to depend on the Arranmore lifeboat to bring her ashore in my parish? That very sick woman then had to travel a further 40 miles to hospital. If the Air Corps or the new service had been available she would have got to hospital in a matter of minutes rather than hours.
I put on record our appreciation of the Air Corps staff. The words of the well-known song, "Those magnificent men in their flying machines", could be applied aptly to them. Given what the Minister has said, I hope there will be a role for these people in future. They have accumulated much expertise and experience over the years so it would be a pity if the Air Corps was not available. When people said "Tá siad ag teacht" on Tory or other small islands, they were not referring to the lasta or the currach but to those helicopters. Their withdrawal is a body-blow to the morale of the Air Corps. When the new Minister examines the matter with an open mind, I hope he will reconsider the future role of the Air Corps in this regard because it has been doing this work for 41 years.
I wish the new company well. I have absolutely nothing against private enterprise, no matter where it is located, and if it matches the service we got from the Air Corps we will be happy. After the long campaign to have Air Corps personnel based locally, I would hate to see those people being reassigned elsewhere and, thus, no longer available on the west coast.
I agree with Deputy McGinley that the Air Corps has done a magnificent job over the past 43 years. I join with him in expressing good wishes for the Air Corps, as well as recognising its service over the years. It is appropriate to salute Air Corps personnel, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice in performing essential rescue missions. I will refer to those later if I get an opportunity to do so.
As regards the Deputy's key question, the answer is "yes". The service provided by the new company, which is already being provided in Dublin, Shannon and Waterford, will certainly not be any less than heretofore. I think it will provide an enhanced service. The Deputy will be aware that when the decision was taken to replace the Air Corps by this private company in the north west, it was preceded by an evaluation undertaken by the previous Minister, Deputy Michael Smith. Unfortunately, that evaluation concluded that we could no longer be guaranteed a full, 24-hour service from the Air Corps in this regard. We are talking about life and death and we need to have a constant, full-time, 24-hour, dedicated service, which I know this new company will provide.
I take Deputy McGinley's point regarding the transition period between the new company taking over and the Air Corps leaving. I have spoken to my officials and to Air Corps personnel about this and I assure Deputy McGinley and the House generally that there will be no risk during that transitional period. During the training period for the new company, it will be tasked with rescue missions. It has helicopter bases in Shannon, Dublin and Waterford, and the Air Corps will be standing by to render necessary assistance.
As regards the future, the Air Corps will still be available in non-maritime situations to provide certain rescue facilities, including an air ambulance service. That is what we have decided will be the future role for the Air Corps in these situations.
5 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the details surrounding the proposed appointment of 200 anti-bullying marshals in the Defence Forces to help stamp out negative behaviour; the role and remit of these marshals; when they will be appointed and when they will commence their work; his views on whether bullying is endemic within the Defence Forces; the number of complaints of bullying within the Defence Forces for the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24411/04]
View answerThe Deputy's question refers to the provision of 200 designated contact persons within the Defence Forces as an integral part of the new, revised military grievance procedures. A need was identified for the putting in place of contact persons within the Defence Forces organisation in line with recognised best practice. The aim of the designated contact persons is to provide a voluntary informal resource for personnel who may wish to discuss an incident of alleged bullying or harassment.
An external civilian consultant was sourced to devise the informal complaints procedure under the new revised administrative instruction A7. She also designed and delivered an appropriate training programme for those who were selected for training as designated contact persons.
Some 200 specially trained designated contact persons are being put in place throughout the organisation to facilitate the operation of the new informal complaints procedures. Some 80 are already trained and a strategic plan is in place to develop the numbers up to 200. Some 170 trained designated contact persons will be in place before Christmas. It is important to note that only personnel who have successfully undergone the necessary special training will become DCPs. This team of DCPs will be professionally supported over time by a consultative team, including the external civilian consultant previously referred to who has wide professional experience and expertise in this area.
The role of the DCP is focused on confidential listening; providing a supportive environment; empowering the individual; providing information; assisting the individual and empathising without judgment. The DCP is not a mediator or negotiator as such. The DCP does not function in the role of an active counsellor, investigator or professional advice provider.
The original Doyle report was published in 2002. The report found that 27% of survey respondents perceived themselves as having experienced bullying within the Defence Forces. This figure was notably higher at approximately 70% for female respondents from the lower enlisted ranks. Some 30% of respondents overall perceived themselves as having experienced harassment. The somewhat higher figure of 35% related to females, and the marginally lower figure of 27% related to males.
My predecessor had secured significant progress and notable achievements over the past two years, since the publication of the Doyle report, in openly addressing and fundamentally tackling this issue. The provision of DCPs is yet another component part of that continuing strategy of active response to the findings and recommendations of the Doyle report.
When will those appointed commence work? I would like a clear answer as to whether the Minister agrees that bullying is endemic within the Defence Forces. I note this is in response to a major study that indicated that more than one-quarter of the military had been bullied and 10% claimed it was continuing. Is the Minister aware that the analysis indicates females in the lower ranks are the victims of bullying while in training?
Certainly bullying appeared to be endemic in the military when the Doyle report was commissioned in 2002, which is more than two years ago. There is evidence that the situation has improved substantially since then. As I said earlier, there is still much to be done but I believe the Defence Forces ombudsman, the new training schemes, new integrated personnel management system and the designated contract persons will have a vital role to play in this regard. I agree with Deputy Sherlock that the original statistics indicated females were more likely than males to be bullied.
On the first part of the Deputy's question, 80 of these 200 people are already trained and ready to start work. We hope to have 170 in place by Christmas and obviously it will not take too long to put the remaining 30 in place. These people are ready to go into action straight away.
