Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:110. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by his Department during 2021; and his main priorities for 2022. [62190/21]
View answerWednesday, 15 December 2021
Questions (110)
Written answers
The Programme for Government contains an ambitious range of commitments concerning the Defence sector that my Department will continue to implement over the lifetime of the Programme.
During 2021, one of the key commitments was to establish a Commission on the Defence Forces. On the 15th December 2020, the Government approved terms of reference and the membership of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The work of the Commission will inform the future development of the Defence Forces. The Department of Defence will continue to support and assist the Commission in their work.
The Defence Organisation has played a significant role in the State's overall response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The response has involved the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence, having regard to their specific roles. The Defence Organisation has participated in a number of official groups such as the High Level Task Force for Covid 19 Vaccination. In addition to supporting the HSE, the Defence Forces have also provided a broad range of supports to other Departments and Agencies. Provision of this support will continue to remain one of my Department's main priorities for 2022.
Implementation of projects arising from the White Paper on Defence (2015) has continued. In total, of the initial 95 projects, 47 are now formally completed and closed with an additional four in the closing process. The review of progress on all projects, taken in Q1 this year, has led to the approval of an updated White Paper Programme Implementation Roadmap. An additional five projects were to be initiated during 2021, four of which have commenced with a further one to commence shortly. I have also approved the commencement of 15 projects in the period 2022 to 2025. 14 other projects have been deferred, pending recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Defence Organisation will interact with the Commission on these issues.
The three year implementation plan for "Civil Defence - Towards 2030" has been approved and is being implemented and other Public Sector Initiatives have been progressed. In March 2021, my Department entered into a contract for the provision of a new on-line Civil Defence volunteer and equipment management system (VEMS) which will allow more efficient management of around 3,000 Civil Defence volunteers, their training and activities. It will also assist equipment and vehicle management. The new VEMS system will 'go-live' in 2022.
My Department also completed the procurement and introduction of an online Learning Management System for Civil Defence, facilitating blended learning for Civil Defence volunteers nationwide. In conjunction with Local Authorities and Civil Defence Officers, my Department completed the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council 'Government Validation Framework' and ' Quality Review Framework' for Civil Defence. The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory body who set the standards for education and training for pre-hospital emergency care in Ireland.
In 2022, my Department will progress the introduction of a modern aggregated legislative basis for Civil Defence and will also complete the development of, and roll-out the new on-line Civil Defence Volunteer and Equipment Management System.
My Department has progressed a number of activities including recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces, and related HR issues. Central to this was the continued implementation of the High Level Implementation Plan “Strengthening Our Defence Forces”. A range of other recruitment initiatives have been introduced including commissioning from the ranks, the re-entry of former PDF personnel with specific skills and a sea-going service commitment scheme for members of the Naval Service. In addition, a range of direct entry specialist competitions have also been initiated as a further means to fill critical positions.
An Independent Review will be established to examine the effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures in place in the Defence Forces to deal with incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace. The Independent Review ‘Dignity and Equality in the workplace, The Defence Forces – an Independent Review’ will be established in early 2022 and will be undertaken by external and independent experts in the field. The final Report will be brought to Government and all recommendations will be considered in full.
An organisational capability review of the Department of Defence commenced in 2021. The Review is being conducted by the Organisational Capability Review team and has involved engagement with Departmental staff and key stakeholders in the policy and operational domains of the Department. Their report is due to be finalised soon.
The Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2021-2023 was published in April 2021 and comes at a pivotal time for the Defence Organisation with the establishment of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Organisational Capability Review of the Department of Defence. This Strategy Statement will be subject to a mid-term review in 2022.
In relation to international initiatives, my Department's main focus in early 2021 was Ireland's policy input into negotiations around the establishment of the European Peace Facility (EPF), the new mechanism to finance Common Security and Defence Policy activities. In addition, my Department is actively engaged in the negotiations on the EU's Strategic Compass which aims to enhance and guide the implementation of the Level of Ambition arising out of the EU's Global Strategy by defining policy orientations and specific goals and objectives in areas such as crisis management, resilience, capability development and partnerships. In the latter end of 2021, we entered the stage of final negotiations on the draft text of the Strategic Compass, so further policy input will be required by my Department in 2022 prior to its expected adoption in March 2022.
Since taking a seat the UN Security Council at the start of this year, the additional structures put in place between the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence and the Defence Forces have worked effectively to achieve great coordination on peacekeeping policy issues. Notable successes include UNSCR 2594, spearheaded by Ireland, which will make a significant structural difference to the UN's peacekeeping architecture, defining what the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding entails, and how it should be managed.
At the recent UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Seoul, I announced a concrete package of commitments including new and existing pledges that will work towards the UN Secretary General's Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative and agreed Security Council priorities.
In 2021, my Department and the Defence Forces established a joint (civil-military) Research Technology and Innovation (RTI) unit. The Unit led engagement with Science Foundation Ireland on a Defence Organisation Innovation Challenge with a total prize fund of €2.3 million. Following review by an international panel following best academic practice, ten projects have been selected to progress to the initial concept phase.
In 2022, in addition to the ongoing support of the Defence Innovation Challenge culminating in an award of €1m to the winning project, the RTI unit will focus on the development of an innovation ecosystem, fostering innovation within the Department and Defence Forces, accessing International Funding and promoting R&D Capability Development.
Significant progress has been made during 2021 in updating Defence Force Regulation R5, the regulation pertaining to the Reserve Defence Force. The updated version is at the last stage of finalisation, and will be sent for Ministerial approval shortly.
The 11th 'Be Winter Ready' public safety campaign was launched in November 2021. My Department also planned, published and launched the 'Be Summer Ready' public safety campaign in April 2021. Under the chairmanship of my Department, the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning prepared and published the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Structures and Framework Guideline Document 1 on National Emergency Coordination Groups, and revised and published SEM Guideline Document 3 - Critical Infrastructure Resilience, Version 2. My Department also coordinated and led the Irish position negotiating the proposed EU Directive on the resilience of critical entities.
In 2022, my Department will continue to prioritise and enhance interdepartmental strategic emergency management through capacity building and knowledge sharing and will develop a governance model to meet Ireland's obligations under the proposed EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive. My Department will review the existing SEM suite of documents to ensure they reflect international best practice for the Irish context and develop a new SEM Guideline Document on National Exercises. Work will also commence on the 2023 iteration of the National Risk Assessment process. The National Risk Assessment identifies and assesses the likelihood and impact of key risks facing the State across a broad range of emergencies. It will also form part of the EU-wide risk assessment process.
My Department will continue to implement the rolling 5 year Infrastructure Plan and rolling 5 year Equipment Development Plan for the Defence Forces. Major equipment projects are being progressed and delivered including the upgrade of the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers, PC 12 and C-295 aircraft and the new Mulit Role Vessle (MRV ) for the Naval Service. Climate action has been integrated into equipment & infrastructure programmes of work and this will continue in 2022.
In relation to legislation, the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted during 2021. The Act updates provisions in the Defence Acts relating to overseas operations and the enlistment of minors. It also provides for an enhancement of the role played by the Reserve Defence Force in support of the Permanent Defence Force, including the removal of the absolute prohibition in the Defence Acts on members of the Reserve Defence Force serving overseas. During 2022, my Department's main priority in relation to legislation will be the enactment of the Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill.
I am satisfied that significant progress is being made in implementing the Government’s ambitious programme for Defence and I look forward to ongoing delivery of key commitments and priorities for my Department and the Defence Forces throughout 2022.