Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which he remains satisfied that the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps remain sufficiently equipped to deal with any emergency or natural disaster that might arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3034/24]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks.
At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency.
In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies such as severe weather events or terrorist attacks rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. The Defence Forces provides assistance within means to the appropriate Lead Department or Principal Response Agency in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) and Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) roles.
In respect of security threats, responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. In that regard, among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of ATCP which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is on-going and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including ATCP deployments and includes military training activities which are specifically designed to respond to possible security emergencies. Regular coordination and liaison meetings also take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues.
The Government established an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020. The work of the independent Commission on the Defence Forces underpins this Government's commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision beyond 2030.
Implementation of the Commission's recommendations will result in significant increased investment in capability development over the coming years and is a demonstration of the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security challenges. An important output from the opening phase of the Transformation Programme, as outlined in the Strategic Framework published in 2023, is to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into an organisation that is fit for the purpose of defending the State, and meeting the challenges of today and the future.
I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm that the Defence Forces keep their operational plans and response capabilities for dealing with a wide range of threats and emergencies under constant review.
I am satisfied that the Defence Forces will continue to respond in an effective and timely manner to such events were they to occur in the state.
