Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Oct 1997

Vol. 480 No. 8

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Equipment.

Derek McDowell

Ceist:

29 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Defence the advantages, if any, which would accrue from the leasing of the necessary equipment to enable our troops to take part in a wider range of peacekeeping missions under UN and EU auspices as against the purchasing of this equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15141/97]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

36 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish Defence Forces personnel currently serving abroad with the United Nations; if he has satisfied himself that equipment is adequate to allow them to play a full role in all such operations; if his attention has been drawn in particular to comments by representative organisations that the lack of modern personnel carriers is creating a problem; the plans, if any, he has for the provision of new personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15071/97]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

88 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if the armoured personnel carriers are to be replaced; and the action, if any, being taken in this regard. [15255/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 36 and 88 together.

Ireland's participation in UN missions generally originates with a formal request to the Irish Government by the United Nations Secretary General, following adoption of a Resolution by the UN Security Council, to deploy a multinational force to a particular region.

The factors which inform the Government's consideration of each such request include the following:

1. An assessment of whether a peacekeeping operation is the most appropriate response to the situation;

2. consideration of how the proposed mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy;

3. the degree of risk involved for UN personnel and in this regard the safety of Irish Defence Forces personnel is always of paramount concern to the Minister for Defence and to the Government;

4. the extent to which the particular skills or characteristics required relate to Irish capabilities;

5. the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate which has the potential to contribute to a political solution;

6. whether the operation is adequately resourced;

7. the level of existing commitments to peacekeeping operations, including consideration of security needs at home.

The Defence Forces are currently participating in a number of overseas missions involving a total of 750 personnel. Troops serving on such missions are provided with adequate resources to carry out their tasks.

New equipment for the Defence Forces is acquired in accordance with national and European Union procedures relating to public procurement. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders which are assessed on the basis of obtaining best value for money by the Department. When tendering in this area suppliers may submit third-party funding proposals which would have the effect of spreading the impact of the cost of aquiring new equipment through a period of time — thus lessening the requirement for large once-off provisions in the Vote. However there is normally an additional interest cost involved. The advantages or disadvantages of third-party financing proposals must be assessed on a case by case basis having regard to factors such as the type of equipment; the scale of cost; the type of financing offered and any additional costs connected with it; the comparative cost of Exchequer borrowing; the availability of funds in the Vote; etc.

The question of procuring armoured personnel carriers is under consideration in my Department at present. A project team has been established comprising civilian and military personnel and has been tasked with identifying the most suitable type of APC for the Defence Forces, the numbers and variants required and the estimated costs involved. Procurement of APC's will be undertaken by way of a competition which will be conducted in accordance with Government contracts procedures.