Written Answers Nos. 1-143
130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a numerical breakdown of officers and enlisted personnel on overseas peacekeeping missions for each of the past four years; his views on whether officers are being assigned duties that were formerly carried out by enlisted personnel; the impact of such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11615/15]
View answerCurrently Ireland is contributing a total of 430 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The details of the Defence Forces average end of month overseas strengths are as follows. In 2012 there were 122 Officers and 310 Enlisted Personnel; in 2013 there were 127 Officers and 310 Enlisted Personnel; in 2014 there were 131 Officers and 288 Enlisted Personnel; and in 2015 there were 134 Officers and 296 Enlisted Personnel.
Officers on overseas deployments are assigned to command and staff roles and duties commensurate with their rank and with the requirements of the appointment.
The ranks for appointments to overseas Mission Headquarters are designated either by UN or the Mission's Operations Commander. Situations may arise where the requirements of the Mission change. In 2014, for example, UNDOF Mission HQ stopped employing Enlisted Personnel from Troop Contributing Nations. Ireland assigned an Officer to the Mission HQ in this particular case.
I also understand that in a small number of instances Enlisted Personnel have not deployed as the overseas package available for the particular deployment was considered unsatisfactory. Given the voluntary nature of overseas appointments it is considered inappropriate by military authorities to mandate military personnel to deploy in such circumstances.
131. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding recently entered into with the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/15]
View answerAs part of the continuing improvement in east-west relations, the Department of Defence has identified opportunities for greater engagement between Ireland and the UK on those areas of defence where we have mutual interests. Against this background, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provides a framework for developing and furthering bilateral co-operation and relations between the Department of Defence and the UK Ministry of Defence.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding places already existing cooperation arrangements in the Defence area between Ireland and the UK on a more formal and transparent footing, while fully respecting the differing policy positions and security arrangements of both States.
The approach to developing the Action Plan has been agreed with the UK. The Action Plan will contain a detailed programme of bilateral co-operation activities for the forthcoming year and set the objectives for the following two years. Discussions in this regard are ongoing.
The MoU and the associated Action Plan will support the development of a greater mutual understanding of the policy considerations underlying our respective actions and engagement in multilateral arrangements including with the EU and the UN. It will also support training exchanges and staff exchanges involving both civil and military personnel. Finally it will provide opportunities for more joint and collaborative work in support of international peace and security including possible contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which expenditure and investment in the Defence Forces remain adequate to meet current and-or future requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11648/15]
View answerAs part of the 2015-2017 Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) process, the Department of Defence submitted a detailed proposal to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in May, 2014. Following on from this CRE submission and subsequent bilateral discussions, an overall financial envelope for the 2015-2017 period was outlined, and the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provided an allocation of some €677m for the Defence Vote.
This allocation provides some €496m towards the pay and allowances of up to 9,500 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel, 625 civilian employees, 350 civil servants, 18 chaplains and 14 army nurses. It also provides €181m for non-pay costs relating to the replacement and maintenance of essential equipment and operational costs.
Decisions on resource allocation are made on a prioritised basis in accordance with any assessed operational need. However, I am confident that the 2015 Defence allocation is adequate to deliver effective services across all of the roles assigned by Government.
Work continues on the development of a new White Paper on Defence. Working groups comprising civil and military representatives from the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are considering future operational demands and the defence capabilities required to meet these demands. I anticipate that the final draft of the White Paper will be submitted to Government for approval by the end of July. Subject to Government approval, the White Paper on Defence will then be published.
133. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the status of the two Government jets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11619/15]
View answerOn the 27th of July last, the Gulfstream IV aircraft, which had been in service for 23 years, travelled to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation facility in Georgia, USA, for its annual maintenance inspection. During this inspection, it became apparent that the servicing and repair of the aircraft would have involved a significantly higher level of investment than was anticipated. Given the number of flying hours achieved and the age of the craft it was decided that the aircraft would be withdrawn from service and would not be returned back to Ireland.
The Department concluded the sale for the aircraft on an as seen basis with a US based company in December 2014. Meanwhile, the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is being provided by the Learjet 45 aircraft.
An inter-Departmental MATS Review Group has been established to examine options for the future provision of a service that will continue to provide the President, members of the Government and accompanying officials with an independent means of international air transport. When the Group has completed its deliberations and made its recommendations, I will bring a Report to Government with recommendations on how best to provide a MATS service into the future.
134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 14 January 2015, the measures and procedures in place, and research done, to ensure the research and capability development engaged in by the Defence Forces is not used in violation of human rights; if he will provide details of the companies the Defence Forces have co-operated with in doing research; and if he will provide details of the projects they have co-operated in. [11646/15]
View answerAs stated in Parliamentary Question No. 10 on the 14th January this year, there is an ongoing requirement to examine new and innovative means of improving capabilities in the security and the defence domain, so that the Defence Forces are in a position to undertake the roles assigned by Government. The capabilities being researched and developed by the Defence Forces in cooperation with research companies and institutions are wide ranging. They cover capabilities such as Maritime Surveillance; Energy Conservation; Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) research including CBRN Protection, and Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) detection and destruction. Such capabilities may be used at home and also abroad on crisis management missions and operations including humanitarian and peace-keeping missions.
Projects proposed by institutes and companies are firstly considered and cleared by Enterprise Ireland and then submitted to the Defence Enterprise Committee for consideration. The Committee consists of personnel from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Enterprise Ireland. All capabilities to be researched are vetted and agreed at the highest level in the Defence Organisation to ensure compatibility with the roles assigned to the Defence Forces by the Government.
In addition to the Enterprise Ireland supported projects, the Defence Forces, through the Naval Service as a partner, are also engaged in the Irish Maritime and Energy Cluster (IMERC) located in the National Maritime College of Ireland which aims to unlock Ireland's maritime and energy potential in support of the Government's policy of Harnessing our Ocean Wealth. The Naval Service engagement in this regard focuses on value creating partnerships by linking researchers, technology developers and industry partners in the development of dual use technologies for use principally in the maritime environment. The current schedule of companies and projects is currently being updated and my Department will provide it directly to the Deputy once it is finalised.
135. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence his views on the Adjudicator's Report in relation to the 21-year soldier; and his plans to implement the findings. [11639/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I, along with my colleague Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, have accepted the findings of the Adjudicator's Report in respect of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) claim under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme in relation to the service limits for Privates and Corporals who enlisted post 1 January 1994.
The report of the Adjudicator was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 4 March 2015.
Military life places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals and it is necessary that its members be physically and mentally prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations and to undertake their duties on deployment overseas. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way.
I believe that the key elements of Defence Forces manpower policy have been maintained with this finding. The adjudication strikes a reasonable balance between the need for regular throughput/turnover of personnel, while also retaining appropriate experience and expertise.
136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the operation of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan; and the basis upon which he will decide whether to continue the involvement of the Defence Forces in this mission. [11614/15]
View answerOn 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the new NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which commenced on 1 January 2015, following the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission from Afghanistan.
Resolute Support Mission is a non-combat training and advisory mission. It is designed to support and develop the capacity of the Afghan National Defence Forces to ensure the security of the Afghan population and its national Governmental institutions following the withdrawal of the ISAF mission.
The United Nations Security Council welcomed the Resolute Support Mission with the unanimous adoption on 12 December 2014 of Resolution 2189. This Resolution underscores the importance of continued international support for the stability of Afghanistan.
The seven (7) Defence Forces personnel who were deployed to the ISAF mission were reassigned to the new Resolute Support Mission on 1 January 2015. They are based in the mission headquarters in Kabul. These personnel are employed in training and advisory roles in Operations, Training and Support appointments. The work being carried out by the Defence Forces personnel represents an important contribution to this new mission.
Participation in overseas missions is subject to ongoing review. Any decision in relation to continued participation in the mission beyond December 2015 will be taken in the context of the situation pertaining at the time and will be subject to Government approval.
137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions the Defence Forces were involved in aid-to-civil-power duties in 2014; and the types of activities the Defence Forces were requested to undertake. [11613/15]
View answerAn Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
The number of occasions and types of operations in which the Defence Forces were deployed in an ATCP role in 2014 are set out in the table.
|
Type of ATCP Operation |
Number of Operations 2014 |
|
Cash in Transit (CIT) Escorts |
1,299 |
|
Euro CIT Escorts |
8 |
|
Prisoner Escorts |
157 |
|
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Call-outs |
141 |
|
Explosive Escorts |
6 |
|
Air Missions in support to Gardaí |
962 |
|
Central Bank Security Guard |
365 |
|
Central Bank Patrols |
972 |
|
Hospital Guard |
13 |
|
Explosive Production Security Guard |
365 |
|
Airport Security Duties |
357 |
|
Naval Service Diving Operations |
17 |
|
TOTAL |
4,662 |
In addition, the Defence Forces carried out a 365 day armed guard at both Government Buildings and at Portlaoise Prison which are missions that arise from Government direction rather than an ATCP request from An Garda Síochána.
All of the figures provided above are provisional until published in the 2014 Annual Report.
138. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the involvement of the Naval Service with the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11620/15]
View answerThe Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) was created in 2008 as a result of a group of maritime stakeholders examining the possibility of pooling elements of Ireland's maritime industrial research in a single geographical location, adjacent to the National Maritime College of Ireland.
This research and commercial cluster aims to realise Ireland's economic potential in the global, maritime and energy markets and brings together expertise in the fields of energy engineering, maritime operations, maritime technology and ecosystem governance.
As the Naval Service has significant technological end user knowledge, it can bring this valuable knowledge to researchers and foreign direct investment clients and small and medium enterprises. In collaboration with IMERC, the Naval Service is currently involved in a number of research initiatives in the maritime domain including technologies for communications and observation at sea and a range of I.T. developments that would have maritime application.
The Naval Service is represented on IMERC's Executive Board and also on its Operational Working Group.
139. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he has undertaken an evaluation of the work of the Defence Forces in Afghanistan since being reassigned under the Resolute Support Mission on 1 January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11617/15]
View answerOn 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the new NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which commenced on 1 January 2015, following the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission from Afghanistan.
Resolute Support Mission is a non-combat training and advisory mission. It is designed to support and develop the capacity of the Afghan National Defence Forces to ensure the security of the Afghan population and its national Governmental institutions following the withdrawal of the ISAF mission.
The United Nations Security Council welcomed the Resolute Support Mission with the unanimous adoption on 12 December 2014 of Resolution 2189. This Resolution underscores the importance of continued international support for the stability of Afghanistan.
The seven (7) Defence Forces personnel who were deployed to the ISAF mission were reassigned to the new Resolute Support Mission on 1 January 2015. They are based in the mission headquarters in Kabul. These personnel are employed in training and advisory roles in Operations, Training and Support appointments. The work being carried out by the Defence Forces personnel represents an important contribution to this new mission.
Participation in overseas missions is subject to ongoing review. Any decision in relation to continued participation in the mission beyond December 2015 will be taken in the context of the situation pertaining at the time and will be subject to Government approval.
140. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the Air Corps is capable of dealing with unauthorised incursions into Irish airspace by military aircraft from other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/15]
View answerThe White Paper on Defence (2000) sets out the current defence policy framework. The role of the Air Corps as set out in the White Paper is to provide a range of military and non-military air services. The Air Corps has traditionally discharged a mix of functions based on a need to supply a range of services such as air ambulance, fishery protection, and support to An Garda Síochána, in addition to their military roles.
The White Paper provides that for the Air Corps to exceed this capability would require a level of investment in personnel, equipment and infrastructure which could not be justified. Accordingly the Air Corps is not tasked, or equipped, to monitor or respond to unauthorised aircraft overflying Irish Airspace.
Work is continuing apace on the development of a new White Paper on Defence. A key part of the development of the new White Paper is consideration of the current security environment and challenges that may emerge into the future. Working groups comprising civil and military representatives from the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are considering likely future operational demands and the defence capabilities required to meet these demands. This work will inform recommendations regarding defence provision.
141. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to a militant attack in Bamako in Mali, which involved the shooting dead of a French citizen and a Belgian security officer serving with the European Union delegation there and three civilians; if the security regulations that Irish troops in the country are bound by have been updated; and his views on whether the lives of these Irish soldiers are under threat because the European Union delegation is training the Malian army to wage war in the north of Mali. [11640/15]
View answerI am aware that on 7th March 2015, a Sahara-based Islamist group claimed responsibility for a rare attack in Mali's capital that killed five people, including two foreigners. This highlighted continued volatility in the African nation two years after France helped retake territory from al Qaeda-linked militants. No Irish personnel were involved in the incident.
Ireland is currently contributing ten (10) personnel to the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). Six (6) Defence Forces personnel are deployed to the joint UK/Irish infantry Training Team. One Lieutenant Colonel is serving as Executive Officer to the Training Task Force based in Koulikoro, and three Irish personnel occupy staff appointments in the mission Headquarters in Bamako.
The training of the Malian Defence and Security Forces is specifically provided for in relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the most recent one being 2164 (2014); this commends the role of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mali) in Mali to provide training and advice for the Malian Defence and Security Forces towards contributing to the strengthening civilian authority and respect for human rights.
During my visit to Mali last week, I had the opportunity of meeting the EUTM Mali Mission Commander, Brigadier General Garcia Vaquero, and the Irish troops serving with the mission. The visit also afforded me an opportunity to see, at first hand, the dedication and professionalism of military personnel and the tremendous work done by them to train and mentor the Malian Armed Forces to improve their military capacity. I conveyed to the troops our deep appreciation for the outstanding manner in which they continue to perform their duties on overseas service.
The security situation in Mali continues to be kept under review by the Defence Forces who actively monitor developments in the region. Increased security measures are in place in the mission to ensure the safety of all EUTM personnel.
142. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps has the capacity and capability to expand its role in operating the emergency aeromedical support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11621/15]
View answerIn June 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between my Department and the Department of Health in relation to Air Corps' participation in a pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone.
The purpose of the pilot service was to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated aeromedical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service, primarily in the west of Ireland for certain types of patients. The pilot focused on the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes, such as Acute Coronary Care and Stroke.
In 2014, a Working Group, chaired by the Department of Health and also comprising representatives from my Department, the HSE and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland, was established to examine options for the establishment of a permanent EAS service into the future.
The report of the Working Group has been submitted to the Minister for Health. My Department has agreed to extend the Air Corps' role in the pilot service to 3 June 2015, while the report is being considered.
143. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he has been involved in recent discussions in the European Union in relation to a future peacekeeping arrangement in Libya under the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy; his views on whether the involvement of the Irish Defence Forces in such an operation would be appropriate, in view of the role of a number of European Union member states in the bombing of Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11612/15]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Dara Murphy, T.D., attended the recent Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 16 March 2015, when the crisis in Libya was discussed. During the meeting, EU Foreign Ministers reiterated their support for the ongoing UN-facilitated talks on Libya, and the efforts of United Nations Special Representative Bernadino León to achieve a sustainable ceasefire between the parties and a political solution to the crisis.
EU Foreign Ministers also agreed during the Council meeting that the EU stands ready to enhance its support to Libya as soon as any agreement on a Government of National Unity is reached and related security arrangements are in place. In this context, the Council invited the High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission to present proposals of possible Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) activities, as part of a wider set of policy options, to support the potential outcome of the talks.
A wide range of possible options is being examined including CSDP activities, rule of law, economic actions etc. Any initiative will be undertaken in close coordination with the UN which is leading the negotiations.
With regard to a possible deployment of Defence Forces personnel to a future EU mission in Libya, Ireland is hopeful that the promise of a political resolution to the crisis in Libya can be fulfilled. In the event that the EU was to launch a CSDP mission in Libya, this would require a request from a Libyan Government of National Unity. Furthermore, no mission could be launched by the EU without unanimity amongst all 28 Member States. Any question of Defence Forces personnel participation will be examined at that stage.
