Written Answers Nos. 69-77
69. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the additional initiatives the Defence Forces are taking in the wake of international terror attacks over the past 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23263/17]
View answerThe White Paper on Defence, published in the Autumn of 2015, considered the security environment, including the threat from international terrorism. It notes that the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for protecting the internal security of the State. The Defence Forces provide, on request, supports in aid to the civil power (ATCP) of an ongoing and contingent nature.
In this context, the security environment is kept under constant review. An Garda Síochána can request a broad range of supports from the Defence Forces including Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and the Army Ranger Wing. On-going coordination and liaison meetings take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána and, based on ongoing threat assessments, the Gardaí and the Defence Forces liaise with regard to possible Defence Forces supports required for a range of contingencies. In this context, I can confirm that there is very active cooperation between an Garda Síochána and Defence Forces including exercises.
The White Paper on Defence set the defence capability agenda for the next decade. In recognising the dynamic nature of the security environment, the Government decided that the Defence Forces would continue to retain a range of flexible conventional military capabilities, in order to meet the roles assigned and as a hedge to future uncertainty.
There are a broad range of White Paper projects currently being implemented which are intended to identify, and develop and maintain such capabilities. It remains a top priority for me and my Department to implement the White Paper projects and ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible.
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.
72. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the implementation of the Air Corps' improvement plan for health and safety at the Air Corps premises at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, in view of the fact that seven out of the eight phases of the plan were to be implemented by May 2017. [23970/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that during 2016 the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) conducted inspections at the Air Corps premises at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel on three occasions, following which the HSA issued its Report of Inspection to the Air Corps. As recognized in this report, the Air Corps had already commenced activities of improvement and were proactive in implementing change before, during and after the engagement with the HSA.
In late 2016, the Air Corps wrote to the HSA outlining its proposed improvement plan and indicating that the Air Corps is fully committed to implementing the improved safety measures to ensure risks are as low as reasonably practicable.
This improvement plan is being conducted over eight phases. The military authorities have advised me that six of the eight phases have now been fully completed and a further phase is progressing well and will be completed shortly. The final phase is a continuous ongoing process.
73. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces performed aid to civil power duties at Shannon Airport on 25 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23971/17]
View answerThe Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
Since 5 February 2003, the Gardaí have requested support from the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport on occasion. The decision to seek support from the Defence Forces is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána.
I can confirm that An Garda Síochána requested assistance from the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport on the 25 April 2017 and personnel were deployed to Shannon Airport on that date.
The issue of overflights by foreign military aircraft and the use of Shannon Airport by foreign military aircraft is the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Successive Governments have made overflight and landing facilities available at Shannon Airport to the United States for well over 50 years.
75. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve the pay, conditions and contracts of Defence Forces members following his meeting with a group (details supplied) in May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23973/17]
View answerRates of remuneration and conditions of employment in each part of the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to levels of pay available in related public sector employments.
I believe that measures contained in the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) and the provisions introduced in Budget 2016 and 2017 will be of benefit generally to members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). The provisions set out in the LRA are an extension of the provision of the Haddington Road Agreement and all existing dispute resolution procedures continue to apply.
The LRA provided for increased salaries during 2016 and 2017 in a manner which benefitted the lower paid. These benefits come in the form of increases in gross pay in 2016 for those earning up to €31,000 and in 2017 for all those earning up to €65,000. In addition the Government has introduced legislation which has commenced the process to reduce the pay reduction applied under the FEMPI Acts.
In relation to the Pensions Related Deduction (PRD), which is commonly referred to as the ‘Pension Levy’, the exemption threshold for payment of the ‘Levy’ will increase substantially during the course of the agreement from €15,000 to €28,750 which means that annual income subject to the levy below €28,750 will no longer be liable to the deduction.
In terms of remuneration going forward, following the publication of the Pay Commission’s report on 9 May 2017, the Government intends to initiate negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations. Future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will be dealt with within this process. I understand that both RACO and PDFORRA have been invited to the forthcoming discussions.
76. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met Prince Charles when he was visiting here. [23334/17]
View answerI met with Prince Charles in Government Buildings last Friday as part of the three day visit by the Prince and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall to Ireland.
We discussed various aspects of the Prince’s programme for the visit and the continued strength of the unique and important relationship between our two countries.
77. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when the next EU Council meeting will take place. [23335/17]
View answerThe next European Council meeting is scheduled to take place on the 22nd and 23rd June 2017. This will include a regular meeting, as well as a meeting of the EU 27 Member States under the Article 50 format.
