Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which Naval Service and Air Corps services are augmented on an annual basis with particular reference to the extent to which the European Union relies on the Defence Forces here to provide coastal surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25464/21]
View answer285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the Naval Service continues to be augmented in order to meet any existing or emerging requirements on Ireland’s coasts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25466/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 285 together.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review and future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process.
The allocation of €1.07 billion for the Defence Sector for 2021, an increase of over €32 million on 2020, emphasises the importance attached by the Government to Defence and will provide the Defence Forces with modern and essential equipment to fulfil all roles assigned by Government and the EU.
The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks.
The Air Corps operate a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft which provide military support to the Army and Naval Service, together with support for non-military air services such as Garda air support, air ambulance, fisheries protection and the Ministerial Air Transport Service.
I am satisfied the all branches off the Defence Forces remain adequately resourced to fulfil all roles as assigned by government. This includes the agility of all three services, Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, to adapt to the specific tasking on hand at any given time, whether that be fisheries protection, overseas deployment, EAS or Aid to the Civil Power. The multifaceted nature of the role of the Defence Forces in Irish life is an aspect of our Military that I am particularly proud of.
