I move:
That a sum not exceeding £51,056,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1992, for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable under sundry statutes to or in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other Military Organisations, etc., and for sundry contributions and expenses in connection therewith; for certain extra-statutory children's allowances and for sundry grants.
The Defence Estimate for the year ending 31 December 1992 is for a gross provision of £345.8 million — an increase of more than £3 million on the figure for 1991. The major part of the 1992 Estimate — 83 per cent, or £271.5 million — provides for pay and allowances and this represents an increase of £2.6 million on the outturn for 1991. The non-pay items amount to £74.3 million; and the provision of £19.5 million for Appropriations-in-Aid shows an increase of over £2 million on the 1991 outturn.
The Estimate for 1992 is based on an average total strength of 12,990 in the Permanent Defence Force comprising 1,575 officers, 65 cadets and 11,350 other ranks and provides for the annual training of approximately 9,000 FCA and Slua Muirí personnel.
Before dealing with the Estimate I feel I should make some comment on the question of defence in the context of the Treaty on European Union. Ireland's traditional position of remaining outside military alliances is recognised by a specific provision in section J of the Treaty which states that the policy of the European Union in the security area "shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states". The Treaty does not set up a common defence policy and it contains no mutual defence commitments whatsoever. Conscription cannot be imposed on Ireland through the Treaty and it is pure nonsense to suggest — as has been suggested — that it can.
The Treaty provides that an Inter-governmental Conference in 1996 may consider the framing of a common defence policy. Any new agreement in this area must be unanimous and would have to be ratified by a referendum. Accordingly, the position of Ireland is completely safeguarded.
A major development in the Defence Forces in the last year has been the establishment of two representative associations — RACO representing officers and PDFORRA representing NCOs and Privates. Since the establishment of the associations the representative structures provided for in the relevant Defence Force Regulations and in the arrangements drawn up in agreement between my Department and the associations have been developed.
The associations have each selected two members who will be seconded to them at State expense to act as full time officials. I would like to congratulate the individuals involved and wish them well in their new appointments. I recently met a deputation from each association and was able to hear at first hand their various concerns.
During the week PDFORRA held its first ever Annual Delegate Conference in Galway and I had the pleasure of addressing the delegates. In addition, the Chief of Staff was invited to the conference and was also afforded the opportunity of addressing it.
Regular meetings now take place between the representatives of the associations and representatives — civil and military — of my Department and, where appropriate, the Department of Finance. In addition, meetings between representatives of the associations and the appropriate military authorities at barrack and command levels are also held. As a result of such discussions many issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.
During the Oireachtas debates on the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, a commitment was given to provide a system of conciliation and arbitration for the Permanent Defence Force on the basis of the system which obtains in the public service generally. In line with this commitment a process of consultation with both representative associations, RACO and PDFORRA, who will be parties to the scheme, is already well under way. Discussions on the terms of the scheme are continuing and a very considerable measure of progress has been made.
I am happy to say, therefore, that the representative arrangements are, generally speaking, developing in a satisfactory manner and I wish to pay tribute both to the association representatives and the departmental representatives, civil and military, for the remarkable progress that has been made in the short period of time since the establishment of the associations in developing the new representative initiative. The House will note that it was the first annual meeting of PDFORRA that I addressed yesterday.
The Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, also provides for representative structures for members of the Reserve Defence Force. My predecessor met with interested personnel of the Reserve Defence Force last year. Representatives of my Department have had a number of meetings with a delegation from the FCA and the Slua Muirí to discuss this matter in greater detail. The meetings are being held in an atmosphere of goodwill. I anticipate that the representative arrangements will be finalised in the very near future and the Defence Force Regulations to make statutory provision for these arrangements will then be signed by me.
Since 1969 one to the main preoccupations of the Defence Forces has been with internal security matters. Primary responsibility for internal security rests with the Garda Síochána and the involvement of the Defence Forces derives from their role of rendering aid to the civil power.
Almost 10,000 military parties were supplied during the past 12 months in the Border area, in response to requests from the Garda. Throughout the State, 1,000 parties were supplied to provide security for the movement and use of explosives in blasting operations. One hundred and sixty two requests were received for bomb disposal teams. Over 2,800 military escorts were provided, including escorts for cash in transit and civilian prisoners.
Discussions have been initiated with a view to securing from the banks a contribution of £2 million — £1.5 million for Defence and £0.5 million for the Department of Justice — towards the cost of cash escorts.
Deputies will be aware that the Permanent Defence Force is making a significant contribution in the cause of international peace by way of the participation in a number of United Nations peace-keeping missions. We have an Irish contingent of about 750 all ranks serving with the United Nations in the Interim Force in Lebanon, eight personnel serving in staff appointments with the United Nations Force in Cyprus and in addition, there are approximately 60 Irish officers serving as observers with various United Nations missions in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Cambodia, Iraq-Kuwait, Angola, Western Sahara, Yugoslavia and in Central America. Three Irish Army officers are serving with the European Community task force for Food Aid To Russia and a further six officers and one non-commissioned officer are serving with the EC monitor mission to Yugoslavia.
Last March I visited the Middle East, including Lebanon, Cyprus and Syria. I spent four days with the Irish contingent serving with UNIFIL visiting 23 locations and saw at first hand the conditions under which Irish troops operate. I was greatly impressed by their sense of commitment to the important work which they are undertaking in the cause of international peace and by the great rapport which exists between them and the local communities. I had reason to have discussions with the Muktar of the local villages and this rapport was very evident from what the village leaders said to me. The morale of the troops was very high. I am satisfied that the presence of UNIFIL is vital to the stability of South Lebanon and affords protection and humanitarian assistance to the local population, who appealed strongly to me for the continued presence of Irish troops in South Lebanon.
The Government remain firmly committed to supporting United Nations peacekeeping missions. All of the military personnel concerned — it is important to stress this — volunteer to serve overseas with the United Nations and I wish to place on record the Government's appreciation of the vital contribution to peace made by Irish military personnel. I also wish to congratulate Major-General Michael Minehane on his recent appointment as Force Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus and wish him every success in his new appointment. As Force Commander of UNFICYP he has personnel from Austria, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, as well as from Ireland, under his command.
Over the past three years, the pay of Defence Force personnel has been increased considerably and increases due in 1992 under the modified terms of the agreement on pay and conditions associated with the Programme for Economic and Social Progress will be applied to the Defence Forces. Provision for these increases will be made in the Estimate for Increases in Remuneration and Pensions. The starting pay of a recruit is now over £150 a week. After four years' service as Private 3 star, his gross pay including military service allowance is over £256 a week. Since the beginning of 1989, the average pay of a Private and NCO has increased by between 45 per cent and 50 per cent. In addition, a variety of allowances is payable to officers and men who perform duties of a security nature. Examples of typical gross taxable earnings for the tax year 1991-92 were: Private 3 star — £14,000 a year or £270 a week; Corporal £16,000 a year or over £300 a week; and Captain — £22,000 a year. These amounts do not include overseas allowance and other non-taxable payments. Increases payable from 1 January 1992 under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress are not included.
Competitions for the award of cadetships in the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service were recently advertised. The successful candidates will commence training next October. A competition for the award of apprenticeships in various trades for the Army and Naval Service was advertised earlier this year. The apprentices will be enlisted in August next. At present 24 NCOs are undergoing a potential officers' course at the Military College Curragh Camp. The successful participants will be commissioned as officers of the Permanent Defence Forces next month.
Ba mhaith liom focal nó dhó a rá faoi iarrachtaí le húsáid na Gaeilge a fhorbairt sna Forsaí. Tá treoir eisithe a rá gur cheart an leagan Gaeilge de órdaithe a úsáid i ndruil coisithe agus i ndruil arm. Ina theannta sin táthar ag úsáid Gaeilge in órduithe rialachais le linn raon cleachta agus traenáil aimsitheoireachta.
Ar chúrsaí éagsúla fágtar am ar leith le haghaidh léachtaí agus díospoireachtaí ag baint le cultúr na hEireann agus úsáid na Gaeilge. Tá Bord mileata ag aithbhreithniú conas is féidir níos mó a dhéanamh le húsáid na teangan a leathnú sna bearraicí agus postanna míleata mórthimpeall na tíre. Tá a fhios agam gur mór dos na Forsaí agus iad ar sheirbhís thar lear leis na Náisiúin Aontaithe a dteanga féin a úsáid agus í a chlos ag saighdiúirí ó náisiúin eile.
Sa Roinn tá daoine aitheanta chun plé leis an bpobal trí mheán na Gaeilge i ngach oifig i mBaile Átha Cliath agus i nGaillimh.
As regards the Reserve Defence Force, annual training for the FCA and the Slua Muirí at the same level as in recent years will be held this year and the full annual gratuity will be paid. The position with regard to training will continue to be kept under review. I wish to express the Government's appreciation for the work of members of the reserve who give such a fine example of good citizenship to the youth of the country. I should mention in passing that I had the pleasure of commissioning FCA officers in Galway recently and commended them on their service to the country and keeping up a tradition of citizen soldiers which goes back a long way.
With a budget of £399 million for the Defence and Army Pensions Votes and a total payroll of almost 14,500, including civilian employees, the Defence Forces constitute a major organisation in both manpower and financial terms. Recent developments in the area of information technology provide greatly increased scope for the use of computers in the defence area. To harness the benefits of these technical advances, a major strategic information plan, covering all areas of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, has been adopted and implementation is well under way.
At the end of 1990, a contract for the supply and installation of the computer equipment required to implement the first phase of the plan was signed. Initial deliveries of equipment were made in 1991 and over £1.7 million is provided in this year's Estimate for a further instalment of computer equipment. It is anticipated that substantial savings in the area of administration will result from the programme of computerisation, particularly in the areas of purchasing and inventory control.
In regard to fishery surveillance, an EC funding package covering expenditure incurred between 1991 and 1995 was approved for member states in November 1989. In accordance with these arrangements a programme was agreed with the EC and a contract was placed in April 1991 for the purchase of two new CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft for delivery in early 1994 and an interim CASA CN 235 which was delivered last year. Fifty per cent of the expenditure will be refunded by the European Community.
The protection of our maritime resources is a priority for the Naval Service. This involves all seven Naval Service vessels in patrols throughout the fishing grounds within Ireland's 200 mile limit, frequently in quite challenging conditions. In addition, since late 1991, a Dauphin helicopter has operated from LE Eithne on fishery protection surveillance activities. While aboard LE Eithne, the Dauphin is used to extend the surveillance range of the ship and to search out and locate fishing vessels to determine the legality of their activities. This arrangement has proved very effective and has assisted in the detention of illegal fishing vessels. Naval personnel are fully deserving of our appreciation for the professionalism and dedication with which the task of fishery protection is performed.
There have been important developments in the area of search and rescue. A Dauphin helicopter has been positioned at Finner since July 1991 for search and rescue operations in the north-west and the heli-pad facilities there have been improved. A contract SAR helicopter service has been put in place at Shannon.
Since their acquisition, the Dauphin helicopters have flown more than 400 search and rescue missions, as a result of which more than 200 people were rescued. I want to take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation, and that of the Government, for the excellent job which the Air Corps are doing in the search and rescue role.
As regards the maintenance and improvement of military posts, a provision of £8 million is made in Subhead V of the Estimate for building and engineering works both for new construction projects and for the refurbishment of existing buildings to meet the needs of Army personnel. A total of £4.5 million of this provision is earmarked for capital investment. A large proportion of this amount will be devoted to works required in connection with the evacuation of Collins Barracks, Dublin. These include works in McKee Barracks — a new dining complex, renovation of billet blocks and a new building maintenance facility. In Cathal Brugha Barracks, the works include the completion of the new central armoury, a new headquarters for the Eastern Command, a new dining hall complex and a new supply and transport facility.
Other major new works to commence in 1992 are the fitting shop, naval base, Haulbowline and a search and rescue building in Finner Camp. A programme for the improvement of existing billets is continuing, as well as major maintenance and health and safety works.
Another special departmental programme is the Asgard sail training scheme. A full programme of cruises for Asgard II has been planned for 1992. These cruises will cater for some 580 trainees, mainly in the age group 16 to 20 years of age. Last year was a very successful year. The Asgard II, its crew and trainees succeeded for the first time in securing the Cutty Sark Trophy, which is awarded to a ship participating in the annual Tall Ships Race.
I am pleased to announce a major change in the status of women in the Defence Forces. I have made a decision in principle to end the restrictions which prevent women from serving in all areas of the Defence Forces.
Women were enlisted into the Defence Forces in 1980 and at present, there are 111 female military personnel. The range of appointments open to women has been expanded in recent years to include Army and Air Corps apprenticeships and Air Corps cadetships. However, because of their status as non-combatants, women have been restricted in the duties allocated to them. For example, women serving in the Army have not undertaken security duties in aid of the civil power.
I have recently received the report of a board which was convened in September 1991 to consider expanding the role of women in the Defence Forces. The board, which included a male civilian and two women, concluded that the policy of limiting women to a non-combatant role should be discontinued. They recommended the full participation of women over a period of time in all aspects of Defence Forces activity, to include participation in operational work; the full integration of women in relation to access to the military career educational system and to promotional opportunity in the Defence Forces and a transitional period to plan and implement the recommendations of the board.
I have considered the conclusion and recommendations of the board, which have been endorsed by the military authorities, and have approved the broad thrust of their findings. I am instructing the military authorities to engage in the detailed planning necessary to ensure the implementation of the recommendations.
With regard to Civil Defence, the Minister of State will deal with this matter.
I now turn to the Army Pensions Estimate for the year ending 31 December 1992. The Estimate is for a net sum of £51,056,000 representing an increase of £1,606,000 or 3 per cent on the 1991 outturn. The bulk of expenditure from the Estimate falls under subhead E1, which covers pensions and gratuities granted under the Defence Forces pensions schemes to former members of the Permanent Defence Force and their dependants. This item accounts for 80 per cent of the total Estimate with approximately 6,500 pensioners.
