The question of the establishment of a Women's Service Corps is creating widespread interest throughout the country and within the services. It is not an innovation in military history but something that has been successfully implemented in other armies. I believe the response to the idea will be very satisfying because to date only young men of good character have been accepted for the Army. I believe the women would now like to make an active contribution to the Defence Forces and the opportunity will be given to them. I hope the interview boards set up to recruit the officer cadre will maintain the standards established by the interview boards for cadets to date. I do not hold the view that there has been any favour bestowed on sons of officers. I have no knowledge of any unsuitable candidate being selected for the officer corps. In fact suitability and fitness are the criteria on which judgment is based. I believe that in the formation of the new force a very high standard will be expected of the officer corps.
There is no reason why women should not contribute largely in every area within the Army. Some suggest that they should be confined to clerical and catering areas and some other areas, but I think that with initial training the women could compete in all Army weapons operations and can be trained to as high a standard as young men. There is no reason why with the rifle, the Gustav and lighter weapons, we should not have excellent female soldiers. Some Deputies have suggested that we should get information from other countries. Some suggested the example of the Israeli Women's Corps. I think we should establish our own standards. Conditions in Israel are much different. I hope we never have to endure the heat they have to endure in Israel nor would I like to find that the problems of that terrain had to be overcome here. I did see the forces in Israel, although I did not visit any barracks. The high standard of both men and women in the forces was very noticeable when they retired from active service. The discipline and training they got and brought with them into civilian life gave them alertness, courtesy and smartness which were very obvious in every walk of civilian life where both these men and women work.
I should like to see our women's corps established within their own barracks and in time it could be seen where they could be best deployed. Initially, I think they would make much greater progress in training within their own area. We would look forward to seeing competition within the Army in gymnastics and other sports areas, basketball, swimming or in the many areas for which the Army is famous, where this corps could get an opportunity to show their talents.
The second line reserve, An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil is another vital area in the Defence Forces. For many years now Army brigades are composed of regular units combined with battalions of FCA for the one purpose of defence. Generally speaking, there is not adequate understanding or appreciation of the continuing service given by the FCA volunteers. They are always available. They have guarded our vital installations down the years. Their service has gone unnoticed. The Minister referred briefly to them and acknowledged their service but generally the public seem to ignore and not be aware of this continuing contribution. Have Ministers, the present Minister and past Ministers, and Deputies really got down to studying how we can improve conditions for people who give voluntary service?
For the past 30 or 40 years, since the old LDF days, a very unattractive uniform has been worn by serving members. Thought has never been given to a replacement of that uniform. In inclement weather when members are on active service, doing strategic or tactical exercises or just on the firing ranges, they get wet. Nobody ever thought of providing these men with protective clothing, except a great-coat, and at one time ground sheets were issued. It is vital that thought be given to the provision of additional clothing. If we had a smartening up of the uniform it would be an attraction and an encouragement for new members.
Some people might be frustrated or dissatisfied with the FCA. But active members, people who are in touch and who go on regular parades, know exactly what is going on. If members do not attend they cannot be expected to know what their duties are. Of course, there is a remedy for that— one can be made non-effective if one does not attend regularly.
Some consideration should be given to the provision of ranges. I know of battalions which have to travel 100 miles each way to a firing range. Does this not seen unreasonable at this time of expensive travel costs? A range could be erected in a suitable area which would make such journeys unnecessary. Thought should be given to the establishment of suitable ranges at reasonable distances from FCA battalions.
I remember 25 or 30 years ago when it was normal practice for Ministers to hold conferences in the Curragh at which battalion commanders would be present. It was normal for them to express their views on how best they considered the FCA force in their area could be improved. I do not know if the Minister attended some of those conferences. I know I did. We raised many points which down the years have never been attended to adequately. It is a waste of time attending conferences if some action is not taken.
I want to refer specifically to the necessity of establishing a range in County Clare. This matter has been raised for the last 25 years. Such a range would obviate the journey to Kilworth Camp in County Cork which is more than 120 miles from that area. Voluntary labour by members of the FCA could be given for the erection of the necessary buildings.
Generally speaking, there is no lessening of enthusiasm or desire to serve the country by our young men. We hear of many problems with our youth, of the difficulties of overcoming the boredom they suffer from and of the question of controlling violence among our young people, who have nothing better to do than go around in gangs. Parents should consider the FCA. Their sons would get very good training in discipline and physical culture, and there is even provision for advancing educationally.
When the Women's Service Corps is established, I see no reason why some thought should not be given to establishing a women's corps in the FCA. This would give the young women in their own locality an opportunity to get good physical training. They could have their own NCO and officer corps with whom they could train. I can visualise a time when our FCA headquarters at battalion and company level would have both NCO and officer ranks to give the training I referred to. This is only a thought, but it is something on which some firm decisions should be made.
I am surprised there is no allocation for expenditure on improvements on the 12th Battalion Headquarters, Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, Deputies have described some of the Army billets as the worst in Europe. I have not seen the barracks in Europe. It is true however that many of the buildings are old—they were there in the British time—particularly in the Curragh, but there have been vast improvements in the catering services, installations and field kitchens. We have had a wonderful standard of training given by the catering service in the Army. Diningrooms are excellent and the standard of service there is equal to any given in an hotel. However, some of the billets are very old and need replacement and the pace seems to be rather slow. One wonders who is responsible when it comes to allocating money for Defence. Is it the civil servants in the Department of Finance? It seems unreasonable that the Army should be the last people to get the comforts, yet they are the first group we have to rely on when we are in danger. I would like to see a change of heart on this.
Even if we have to borrow money or to raise it from taxes, we must provide normal comforts for our PDF whom I regard as first citizens of the State. I think it is unreasonable that married soldiers should have to compete with others for houses. Some married men are transferred frequently and I think there should be some priority given to them in the local authority housing lists. It has been suggested that some agency should be established within the Army to make provision for Army personnel living adjacent to barracks and for staff attached to FCA units. I should like to know if any progress is being made in this respect.
I am glad to note that Civil Defence is being looked after properly. It is an important service to which men and women devote their spare time voluntarily. The local authorities pay a contribution towards the outlay. I should also like to pay a tribute to the Red Cross, the Knights of Malta and the St. John Ambulance Brigade for the excellent work they do and the high standards they maintain.
I wish to deal briefly with the Army Equitation School and with all those associated with it, including those who purchase the horses. In this connection I submit that there will be unanimity that we should be prepared to pay the right price for the right type of horse. This is an area in which Army officers have given outstanding service to the State and have helped to give the Irish horse the highest place in the world.
I will refer to the introduction of a contributory pension scheme for widows and orphans of non-commissioned officers and privates in our PDF. The contributions will be by way of deduction from pay while the members are serving. There is also a provision to have deductions made from gratuities. In some cases these deductions could amount to £900 or £1,000. I do not regard such deductions as being fair because many NCOs and men look forward to these gratuities, to which they do not contribute, when they retire. If a serving NCO predeceases his wife while he is serving she or the family will not be eligible for ex-gratia payments. I do not know if this scheme has been implemented. If not, I urge on the Minister to have it improved.
Membership of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen is open to all the forces and I should like the Minister, by way of recognition of the service ONE men have given to the State, to establish a closer liaison with that organisation. They hold functions annually and I suggest that the Army, possibly through the attendance of Army bands and so forth, would try to make these annual events more enjoyable. The relationship between the Army and ONE is quite good at the moment and we would like to maintain and improve it as far as possible. Their members are very proud of their service and they deserve some recognition.
We can anticipate a vast improvement in fisheries protection by the
Naval Service when they have the necessary boats commissioned, and we hope we will be able to patrol successfully and protect our fisheries in the limits within which we will have full jurisdiction. Our fisheries will develop and our youth will see a future; if those who have been encroaching on our territory over the years are restricted and if our conservation methods succeed there will be a good living for our young fishermen.
We have land, sea and air services, and in all our people are familiar with the work of our Air Corps. Again this is vital, and I am satisfied that everything possible is done to have the right type of plane and equipment made available to our pilots, whether they are pilots of helicopters or of planes. Their mercy missions from time to time bring home to people what a really valuable service they are providing and we should all express our gratitude to those brave men who in very difficult conditions undergo and overcome many hazards.
In the field of sport the Army have always excelled and we have some fine cadets in our Army who distinguished themselves in the sporting arena. The women's corps when fully trained will make a contribution; there is no reason why they should not be given the opportunity to develop their talents in our Army bands in the future.
Gymnastics is an area in which our Army personnel have developed a very high standard of physique. Our gymnastic teams some years ago were outstanding and as we approach more normal times we look forward to seeing this applying equally in every battalion. It is important that the instructors maintain the standards; it would be a pity to see them going rusty. We have developed a very high standard of adventure training and at the moment every command in the State have an adventure training club who engage in a variety of activities. This is a major factor in developing the physique of our young soldiers, who are as capable, fit and well-trained as any soldiers in any army in the world. From time to time our soldiers have gone on courses abroad and have shown a real gift for distinguishing themselves in this area.
Services which are very rarely appreciated are the Medical Corps and the Nursing Corps of the Army. They are responsible in a big way for the health and physique of our soldiers, and whether a person is hospitalised or not within the Army, one must appreciate the real care that our Medical Corps and our Army nurses give. I see a useful contribution being made by the women's corps, when established, within that Medical Corps in first aid and in many similar ways.
I should not conclude without referring to the wonderful contribution by our FCA in cross-country and other areas. In international events we have had many distinguished young men over the years who were given that opportunity because they decided to serve in the FCA and in the regular Army. They certainly held the flag high when they went abroad and represented our country.
I will conclude by saying that the Minister has the co-operation of all Members of the House, and indeed of the public, in doing a job which is vital, which must continue and which must maintain the high standards established over the years. Those who lead within the Army have established a very high standard of morale amongst themselves and have given to those they lead the same high ideals. This in a small State is important. I would like to see the public giving much greater recognition to all members of the forces at every level and rank. Our media can project their image favourably. I hope that in the years ahead we will have peace, when those who do not recognise established Governments and who make it difficult for the security forces to maintain standards of peace come round to the belief that there is only one way to peace, and that is to recognise ordered Government, to observe the rules of that Government and to recognise that an established Army and Garda force under the direction of the Government are the only source through which the public can be given a normal way of life. Nobody other than the established Army and Garda force has the right to unsurp the authority given to the elected Government by the people of the State.
