Vol. 470 No. 7
15 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has in respect of recruitment to the Air Corps and the Navy; and the plans, if any, he has for the purchase of ships in order to ensure that the State has adequate personnel and equipment for fishery protection and drug interdiction. [19778/96]
Advertisements were recently placed in the national newspapers inviting applications for enlistment in the Army and the Naval Service in 1996 and 1997. I propose to enlist 200 recruits in 1996 and a further 400 in 1997. The number that will be assigned to the Navy and the Air Corps has yet to be decided.
At present the Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter carrying patrol vessel, four off shore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. Responsibility for the prevention of the illegal importation of drugs rests primarily with the Garda Síochana and the Revenue Commissioners, while the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. During the course of such patrols Naval Service vessels may be deployed to anti drug smuggling operations. Naval Service vessels are specifically tasked from time to time to carry out drug search and interdiction operations in aid of the civil authorities. Existing resources have enabled the Naval Service to respond effectively to such taskings.
Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment of a joint task force involving the Garda, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, will help to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating the illegal importation of drugs. The designation of Naval Service personnel as enforcement officers under the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 will also increase the role and effectiveness of the Naval Service in this area.
As I outlined previously to the House, the EU has introduced a five year programme of financial aid towards the cost of measures to enforce the Common Fisheries Policy. In this context, the question of the resources required by the Naval Service to ensure effective enforcement of the various regulations, taking account of the control measures agreed in December 1995, is being examined. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that Ireland will derive the maximum benefit from the available EU support. The position on the programme for 1997 is that Ireland's submission was passed to the Commission before the deadline of 30 June 1996 and provides for a down payment on an additional Naval Patrol vessel.
The Commission will consider Ireland's application in conjunction with those of other member states and will decide before the end of the year on the level of funding to be made available in 1997. Pending the implementation of the five year programme, the Naval Service will continue to carry out its various roles using the existing seven patrol vessels, a number of which, it is expected, will be refurbished under the five year programme.
I pay tribute to the Naval Service for its involvement in the recent drug seizure in County Cork.
Is the Minister aware that a number of Naval Service personnel have been unable to obtain annual leave and it seems that many are on their last legs? It is crucially important that the Minister indicate how many additional personnel will be recruited to the Naval Service to allay current fears. Will the Minister confirm that the Naval Service is unable to man the seven patrol vessels — it has been quite some time since they were all at sea together — and that there is an urgent need to provide additional personnel? Could he provide an indication of the numbers involved in the recruitment campaign in addition to the numbers he hopes to recruit next year?
I do not agree there are not sufficient personnel to man the seven naval vessels. It is not unusual that those vessels are not at sea at the same time because, for operational and maintenance purposes, they come and go. During 1994 and 1995, a total of 130 personnel were enlisted for general service in the Naval Service. I have already advertised for applications for enlistment in the Army and in the Naval Service in 1996 and 1997. The reason I cannot give the exact number to be allocated to the Naval Service is that a special study is taking place of both the Naval Service and the Air Corps at my request, the necessity for which became obvious during the course of the review of the implementation plan and also following the Price Waterhouse report. This study is ongoing. I hope to have the recommendations of Price Waterhouse before the end of this year.
I am particularly conscious that people who enlist in the Naval Service should have a fair deal. I do not accept that there should be uncertainty about having a reasonable period of rest and spending time with families and loved ones. I have asked in particular that we look at the existing arrangements so that we can, if necessary, change the structures whereby people who go to sea can come back and have a reasonable period at home with their families before going back on duty. I very much value the excellent service given by the Naval Service and will do my utmost to ensure it gets whatever resources it needs.
Notwithstanding the numbers recruited in 1994 and 1995, would the Minister not accept that the overall numbers in the Naval Service are down by about 250 on the complement required to man the ships? While I am grateful for the understanding the Minister has displayed in ensuring that members of the Naval Service have the necessary time off, it is crucial that he give some indication of numbers. In my contact with the navy, I come across a great degree of frustration. Given the arduous nature of the work and the necessity to ensure that fishery surveillance and drug interdiction operations are fully manned, will the Minister try as early as possible to give a firm indication of the numbers to be recruited to the Naval Service?
I do not accept that the Naval Service is without adequate personnel. I do not agree that this is a numbers game. The Naval Service may require another 100 or 200. That will be decided on the basis of an in-depth examination of existing structures and future plans. PDFORRA and RACO, the two representative associations, have met the consultants and have had an opportunity of giving their views. There is ongoing discussion with Naval Service management. We have brought in experts from abroad to work with the consultants and the Naval Service. Depending on the structures recommended, the numbers required will be clearly defined. We could argue forever about how many people are needed. One could say that one needs 50 personnel for seven ships. That would total 350. If the complement per ship were doubled, that would amount to 700. Given that there are over 1,000 employed in the Naval Service, one could argue that there are enough people to man the ships. However, it is not as simple as that, and that is why I would not be tempted to give an exact forecast of the numbers needed. It will depend on the report which will be based on adequate consultation with the management of the Naval Service.
The Naval Service is recruiting at present. I sincerely hope that when the time comes to enlist personnel we will have a clear indication from the advisers we have appointed as to the numbers required to provide a proper service to the public, to protect our fisheries, involve ourselves in drug interdiction operations and give those working in the Naval Service a fair crack of the whip. That is my ambition. For that reason I do not think it is wise to say whether we need another 200 or 300.
There has been an ongoing problem of people being recruited to the Naval Service and trained and, after a short time, looking for a transfer to the Army. Various reasons have been given for this. However, it would not be satisfactory to allow that to continue, because if 40 or 50 people are allowed to transfer from the Naval Service to the Army, the core of people needed to provide a proper naval service is reduced. If a figure is established as being required to carry out certain functions, I want to ensure that the Naval Service will be authorised automatically to recruit people to keep that figure at a constant level.
We have dwelt on this question for some ten minutes. That is half the time available to me for priority questions. Some regard must be had to the Chair and his ability to cope with these questions.
I am sure the Chair would agree that the Minister has given a very long answer to my question, and my questions have been brief.
I have no control over that.
The Minister has made my point for me. One of the reasons people leave the Naval Service is the very frustration I have outlined, which the Minister is not prepared to hear about.
It is too easy to say that. I do not accept it.
