Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 May 2017
70. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to redeploy personnel to the Border region should a hard border be reintroduced in view of Brexit; if his Department held discussions on this aspect; if his Department assessed the number of officers needed in areas of counties Cavan and Monaghan to man the Border if that were to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/17]
View answerAs part of a whole of Government approach, my Department is engaged in forward planning for the UK exit from the EU. While the implications for the border will emerge during the course of the negotiations, it is this Government’s stated goal to try to ensure that the current on-island border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible.
Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána while the Revenue Commissioners also have responsibilities relating to their particular mandate.
Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces also provide support to the Revenue Commissioners. The fact of a UK exit from the EU does not of itself give rise to additional border control requirements at this time.
The Defence Forces at all times keep operational plans under constant review. There is ongoing close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters and regular coordination and liaison meetings take place.
In recent years a range of measures have been introduced in order to ensure that operational readiness and deployability of the Defence Forces are maintained to the greatest extent possible. These measures included barrack closures and the consolidation of three under-strength Army Brigades into two revised Army Brigades. This involved a re-deployment of personnel from HQ and administrative posts into front-line operational Units, which has improved the overarching capacity of the Defence Forces.
I am satisfied that the White Paper on Defence sets out an appropriate blueprint for the development of the Defence Forces. There are currently no plans to redeploy personnel in counties Cavan, Monaghan or the greater border region.
