Written Answers Nos. 998-1012
998. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of all properties in cases in which they were leased by State bodies under his aegis; the list of all State bodies under his aegis that are or could be currently acting independently of the Office of Public Works, OPW, to acquire their own property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42025/22]
View answerThere are no State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
999. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the procedure relating to requests for transfers between the Naval Service and the Army in cases in which a person requests a transfer for family reasons; the length of time for consideration of this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39642/22]
View answerI have been advised by the Military Authorities that in general, transfer requests for Enlisted Personnel are considered on a case by case basis.
An individual member submits an application for transfer from one service corps to another or a posting (within service corps) through the chain of command, for the consideration of the relevant Brigade/Formation Commanders. An important factor in considering the approval of a transfer request is the existence of a vacancy of appropriate rank and skill set. Where Formation Commanders disagree, the final determination is made by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), having taken all factors into consideration.
In this regard, the operational needs of the organisation are balanced with the needs of the individual. I am advised that there is a requirement for Unit Commanders to create conditions where members are afforded the opportunity to meet their contractual obligations for extension of service.
A situation may arise where the movement of an individual to another unit is detrimental to their ability to meet the contractual requirements for extension in service as laid out in Defence Forces Regulations.
In addition, I would advise the Deputy that under the terms of the Promotion Scheme for Non-Commissioned Officers of Sergeant rank and higher, as agreed with the Representative Association, PDFORRA, applications for transfer are ordinarily not administered during the lifetime of the Order of Merit list, of any particular promotion competition.
This allows for vacancies to be filled through promotion as opposed to transfer or posting.
In exceptional circumstances, the filling of vacancies by way of posting/ transfer during a live promotion competition may be sanctioned by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).
Where the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) sanctions a posting or transfer during this period, every effort is made to ensure that no individual on a live Order of Merit list will be adversely affected.
The following timeframe, for the processing of applications, apply to members of the enlisted ranks from date of submission of application form:
a. Parent unit administration 14 Days.
b. Proposed unit administration 14 Days.
c. Parent Brigade/Formation administration 14 Days.
d. Proposed Brigade/Formation administration 14 Days.
e. On occasions where units/brigades disagree and decision is required 21 Days.
The Procedures relating to Commissioned Officer transfers are outlined in Defence Forces Regulations and provide that an Officer may be transferred from one Service Corps to another by the Chief of Staff.
1000. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence the NATO sub-committees that Ireland is a member of; the way that the decision to join such groups is arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39778/22]
View answerIreland is not a member of NATO and not a member of any NATO sub-committees.
Ireland’s relations with NATO are set within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace (PfP). Each partnership country outlines the specific areas of cooperation that it wishes to pursue jointly with NATO. This is a voluntary process and there is no obligation under Partnership for Peace to participate in missions or in any particular activity. Participation in PfP does not involve any commitment to NATO’s common defence arrangements.
The principal benefit of participation in Partnership for Peace is that it has allowed us to enhance the Defence Forces’ capabilities and interoperability with other professional military forces for peacekeeping, preventative and crisis management operations under UN mandates.
1001. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if future European Union permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, engagements will be decided by his Department or internally within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39786/22]
View answerAny decision to join a project of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is taken in accordance with the terms of the Programme for Government, which provides that “Ireland’s participation in PESCO projects will be maintained on an ‘opt-in’ basis, with contributions being entirely voluntary. Any projects undertaken within PESCO will be approved by Cabinet and Dáil Éireann. The Government will not participate in projects that are incompatible with our policy of active military neutrality and non-membership of military alliances.”
Ireland is currently a participant in only one PESCO project, the lowest number of any participating Member State. Following the recent approval of the Government and Dáil Éireann and subject to the agreement of the existing participating Member States, Ireland will now join four additional projects, which will bring our rate of participation to a level similar to that of Finland and still below those of other militarily neutral countries like Austria and Cyprus.
These four projects relate to
(i) Cyber Threats and Incident Response Information Sharing Platform;
(ii) Deployable Military Disaster Relief Capability package;
(iii) Special Operations Forces Medical Training Centre; and
(iv) Maritime (semi-) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures
Participation in PESCO is a tool which can enhance the Defence Forces’ military capabilities for participation in UN-mandated peace support operations, enhance interoperability and ensure that our troops are provided with the latest and best equipment and training. As I informed the Dáil on 5 July, my proposal for Ireland to join these projects reflects the military advice provided to me, which will further enhance the Defence Forces’ capability to undertake the roles assigned to them by the Government, both at home and overseas.
1002. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if his Department recently carried out a title search of the Nenagh military barracks site; the results of the title search; his Department's future plans for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39801/22]
View answer1003. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if his Department will make someone available as a contact for the local authority to deal with some issues of dereliction of the Nenagh Kickham Barracks site and also health and safety issues due to the site being open to persons walking in and around the ruins due to the council having difficulties getting answers to queries from local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39802/22]
View answer1004. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if his Department will carry out a survey of the Nenagh military barracks to examine whether it is possible to save the barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39803/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1002 to 1004, inclusive, together.
Officials in my Department are currently progressing the application for First Registration of this property with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Upon completion of this application, it is the Department's intention to dispose of the property in question. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department would be willing to transfer the property to the local authority.
The Deputy may wish to note that my officials have been in recent contact with officials of the County Council in relation to the Department's intention to secure the site in the light of recent anti-social and unauthorised behaviours on the site.
In addition, the Deputy may wish to know that my Department addressed the issue of clean-up of the Barracks grounds in the first week in May 2022 and will now proceed to secure the site by installing a fence and access door to safeguard the premises in the coming weeks.
1005. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence the timeframe that the strategic assessment preliminary business case for the multirole vessel, MRV, will be provided by his Department to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for its consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39830/22]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
As a result of the White Paper commitment to Naval Service vessel replacement, the project to replace the flagship L.É. Eithne with a multi-role vessel (MRV) is currently being progressed and Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement. The MRV is an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan and is provided for in the Government's National Development Plan as a major capital project. It is the Government’s intention that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks.
In compliance with the Public Spending Code, a Strategic Assessment Report for the MRV is currently being finalised by my Department and I understand this process is nearing completion. Following a successful completion, that Assessment Report will be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for review.
1006. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence the timeframe that he expects progression of the programme for Government commitment to ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to healthcare as officers currently do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/22]
View answerA Working Group was established in 2021 with a view to bringing forward proposals on the Programme for Government commitment to "ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to health care as officers currently do". The Working Group completed its work at the end of June 2022 and its final report is currently under consideration. This will inform the next steps to be taken.
1007. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Reserve Defence Forces, RDF; the total current annual expenditure on the RDF; if he plans to take steps with relevant Government colleagues to protect the employment rights of RDF members whose duties may come into conflict with their part-time or full-time employment responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39832/22]
View answerThe Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The strength of the RDF, as of 30 June 2022, is set out below:
|
Service |
Total Effective Personnel |
|
Army Reserve |
1387 |
|
Naval Service Reserve |
103 |
|
First Line Reserve |
275 |
The budget for the RDF has been maintained for a number of years at a constant €2.150m of which some €2.068m is dedicated to paid training. The AR and NSR Pay element provides for paid training by members of the AR and NSR and accounts for 96% of the overall Estimate. This amount, as in previous years, will facilitate up to 26,000 paid annual training Mandays for members of the AR and NSR, based on the organisational establishment of 4,069 personnel.
This allocation will provide seven days annual paid training for all effective members of the Reserve, fourteen days paid training for all additional personnel recruited to the Reserve and will provide for career and specialist courses for selected members of the Reserve in line with Reserve priorities. This provision is sufficient having regard to the existing strength of the RDF and the voluntary nature of Reserve training. The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the RDF are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3 and RDF pay rates are linked with the PDF rates of pay.
750 paid Mandays are made available specifically to the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA) to allow its members conduct association business. RDFRA currently receives an annual subvention of over €62,000 from my Department, in addition to the provision of office accommodation. Within the last two years, I have also approved further payments totalling €11,500 in supplementary financial support for the Association.
The primary roles allocated to the RDF have thus far, been to augment the PDF in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events. Heretofore, there was no provision in the Defence Acts to allow RDF personnel to be deployed overseas. However, the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 has now been signed into law, which serves to update the Defence Legislation on the use of the RDF on a voluntary basis, on-island and overseas in support of the PDF and where it is in the best interests of the PDF. I have written to the Chief of Staff seeking his advice on these matters as they pertain to the requirements of the PDF.
In tandem, the practical arrangements to implement the amendment, including all the elements associated with the voluntary service by RDF members overseas, are under active consideration by my officials and the military authorities. Furthermore, my officials will also be actively consulting with RDFRA on these matters at the appropriate juncture.
Separately, and on foot of the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021, I engaged with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) on the issue of employment protection for RDF members who might be engaged in such voluntary military service in support of the PDF going forward.
Engagement at official level with DETE has continued since then to consider the matter and identify appropriate next steps. This body of work is ongoing.
I can confirm that the Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published last February, contains many detailed recommendations, including on the future structure and role of the RDF. I recently announced that the Government has approved a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission.
A High Level Action Plan (HLAP) that sets out the Government’s response to the recent report of the Commission on the Defence Forces has also been approved. Some specific initiatives include the immediate commencement of planning for the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force.
1008. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Defence if a decision has been made on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39844/22]
View answerNo decision has been made to locate a Naval Base in Dun Laoghaire.
There is a long standing and ongoing tradition of Naval Service Ships using Dún Laoghaire Pier and Harbour both for shelter and shore leave. The Naval Service make use of the Harbour for training by the Naval Service Reserve and to mark many significant events.
These events have included the Commissioning Ceremony of LÉ James Joyce that took place in Dún Laoghaire in 2015 and the Freedom of Entry to the County was bestowed upon the Irish Naval Service in 2017 by Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Co Council in recognition of its work in the Mediterranean humanitarian crisis. The Naval Service official 75th Anniversary celebrations began in Dún Laoghaire Harbour in 2021 when the LÉ Samuel Beckett berthed overnight and departed the Harbour heralded by a 21-gun salute.
The connection between Dún Laoghaire Harbour and the Naval Service is an important and strong one that continues to be fostered on an ongoing basis.
1009. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39950/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, my Department spent the following amounts on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2012 |
€4,488.57 |
|
2013 |
€56,634.21 |
|
2014 |
€45,606.64 |
|
2015 |
€44,983.93 |
|
2016 |
€43,779.68 |
|
2017 |
€45,205.51 |
|
2018 |
€41,368.10 |
|
2019 |
€39,787.73 |
|
2020 |
€48,415.78 |
|
2021 |
€97,919.94 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€35,294.75 |
1010. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; and if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39968/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, my Department has not spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations in the past ten years and to date in 2022.
1011. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39986/22]
View answerThe Department's Litigation Branch manages litigation claims taken against the Minister for Defence. In doing so, the Branch works closely with both the State Claims Agency (SCA) and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO). Personal injury cases taken against the Minister for Defence are managed on behalf of the Minister for Defence by the SCA, and Employment Law matters taken against the Minister for Defence are managed on behalf of the Minister for Defence by the CSSO. The number of Personal Injury and Employment Law cases received in each year from 2012 to 2021, and up to 30 June 2022 are outlined in the table below.
|
Year Received |
Personal Injury Claims |
Employment Claims |
Total |
|
2012 |
89 |
38 |
127 |
|
2013 |
105 |
25 |
130 |
|
2014 |
128 |
39 |
167 |
|
2015 |
124 |
34 |
158 |
|
2016 |
112 |
13 |
125 |
|
2017 |
117 |
17 |
134 |
|
2018 |
220 |
27 |
247 |
|
2019 |
170 |
9 |
179 |
|
2020 |
83 |
12 |
95 |
|
2021 |
71 |
35 |
106 |
|
2022 (up to 30 June) |
26 |
4 |
30 |
The Deputy will be aware that a case does not always start and finish in the same calendar year, and in some instances the cases can run over a number of years. The figures provided above show the number of new cases received in each of the years 2012 to date. The total number of Personal Injury and Employment Law cases that are ongoing as at 30 June 2022 is 515 cases.
Since its establishment on 1 October 2015 there have been 26 complaints made to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), with the Minister for Defence listed as the Respondent in all such cases. Prior to this, employment related complaints were handled by various agencies such as the Labour Relations Commission. Complaints made may originate from either the Defence Forces personnel or civilians. The Chief State Solicitor's Office is responsible for the State's legal representation for complaints lodged with the WRC. Details of complaints in the period outlined in the Deputy’s question are set out in the table below:
|
Year Received |
Work Relations Commission (WRC) |
Labour Relations Commission |
Equality Tribunal |
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2014 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
2017 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
2018 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
2019 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
2021 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
|
2022(up to 30 June 2022) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
In addition, the Civil Defence which operates at national level under the Department of Defence, has advised that 7 Public Liability claims and 1 Personal Injury claim were received in the period from 2012 to date.
1012. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40004/22]
View answerThe expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022 is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2012 |
€1,150,449 |
|
2013 |
€1,388,029 |
|
2014 |
€1,585,123 |
|
2015 |
€1,508,512 |
|
2016 |
€1,562,699 |
|
2017 |
€1,596,213 |
|
2018 |
€3,323,130 |
|
2019 |
€3,180,060 |
|
2020 |
€3,830.078 |
|
2021 |
€2,681,009 |
|
2022 (to 30 June 2022) |
€780,390.92 |
