asked the Minister for Defence if he now is in a position to state if the Government have made a decision on the purchase of Timoney APCs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timoney APCs.
9.
A decision has not been made regarding the purchase of additional armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces.
The provision of further armoured personnel carriers is being considered in the light of priorities and requirements of vehicles generally.
Will the Minister indicate if the tests that have taken place on the Timoney armoured personnel carrier have been satisfactory?
I can assure the Deputy that the Army appear to have the number of armoured personnel carriers that are required. In the event of further carriers being required in the light of their priorities consideration will be given to the Timoney application.
Perhaps the Minister did not understand me. I want to know if the tests on the Timoney armoured personnel carrier have proved satisfactory.
It is a matter for the Army authorities to convey the results of such tests to me. It will depend on the results of the test.
It appears the Minister does not know the answer. Will the Minister tell the House if the total cost of development of the prototype armoured personnel carried was in the region of £250,000?
I can assure the Deputy that this Government are very exact and particular with regard to how public money is spent. If there are additional armoured personnel carriers required in the light of the Army priorities, I can assure the Deputies that the matter will be considered.
Is the Minister aware that a previous Minister for Defence gave an undertaking to the Dáil that if there was any production of armoured personnel carriers of the Timoney type a large portion of the work would be done in Ireland?
I can only give an assurance for myself. I can assure the Deputy that if the Army consider additional carriers are required the Timoney application will be considered. At the moment it is under consideration in the light of the Army priorities.
Is the Minister aware that the Belgian Government have confirmed an order worth $17 million for 124 armoured personnel carriers from Timoney which will be produced in Belgium under licence? Will the Minister tell the House why the undertaking given by a previous Minister is not being honoured?
That is not the question originally asked by the Deputy. Question No. 9 asks if I am in a position to state if the Government have made a decision on the purchase of Timoney armoured personnel carriers. I have told the Deputy the position which is that in the light of priorities and requirements generally this matter will be considered.
In view of the fact that if production work on these armoured personnel carriers took place here Irish workers would be compensated for the large expenditure on the development of the prototype, will the Minister indicate what went wrong between the Government and Professor Timoney? He must be applauded for his work on the development of this vehicle.
Will the Deputy please put a brief question? We have other questions to deal with at Question Time.
The Timoney armoured personnel carrier has been applauded by the foremost armoured vehicle experts in the world. Will the Minister give an assurance that this matter will be taken up and that Irish workers will be considered for future development work?
We are spending too long on this question. I am calling Question No. 10.
Will the Minister tell the House why the Government have ratted on their responsibilities?
I can assure the Deputy that, to my knowledge, nothing went wrong between the Army authorities and Professor Timoney. I have told him that the application is under consideration. Surely the Opposition would not require me to direct the purchase of personnel carriers if they were not immediately and urgently required? The application will be considered having regard to the Army requirements when we are considering the general question of vehicle requirements.
The Minister's reply would indicate that he does not know the feelings of the Army authorities on this matter or that they have not indicated to him that they need these vehicles. Can he give the House an assurance that if the Army authorities indicate they need these armoured personnel carriers money will be made available immediately for their purchase?
I can assure the Deputy that the purchase of additional armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces will be considered in the light of priorities——
In the light of availability of money.
Does the Minister recall that some weeks before the Easter recess I raised this question with him and he asked for time to inform himself about the situation? In the light of that answer and the time that has elapsed since then, does the Minister not agree that his answers today were ill-informed, evasive and downright unsatisfactory?
I do not agree. I recollect assuring the Leader of the Opposition some time before Easter that I would be prepared to look into the matter. I am always glad to get an intelligent question from him. I can assure him I have looked into this matter. As I have pointed out, the Timoney application will be considered in the light of Army requirements. Surely the Leader of the Opposition does not wish the Minister for Defence to direct the purchase of armoured personnel carriers unless the Army are satisfied there is a need for them? They have other priorities and in the light of those, this application will be considered.
Does the Minister recall that on the previous occasion I directed his attention to the fact that the matter had then been under consideration for three years? The Minister can put the matter no further at this stage.
I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that the matter is still under consideration. This Government have a high degree of responsibility to the ratepaying public——
The Minister should come clean.
——as to how public money is spent in relation to defence.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I am calling Question No. 10.