Vol. 485 No. 3
26 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence his views on the recent survey prepared by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers which showed that morale within the Army's officer corps is at an all time low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/97]
58 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the opinion poll carried out for the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers which showed that more than half of the public knew very little or nothing about the Defence Forces; if he will mount a campaign to promote public awareness of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23090/97]
61 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to deal with the low level of morale among officers recently surveyed on behalf of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23091/97]
74 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the response, if any, he has to the recent report on Army morale published by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers. [23084/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 58, 61 and 74 together.
As indicated in the questions, the survey in question were carried out on behalf of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers and the results are essentially a matter for the association. RACO has however, done me the courtesy of drawing the survey results to my attention.
Prior to my appointment as Minister for Defence, I took an active interest in Defence matters for a considerable period as Opposition spokesperson. I believe that the Defence Forces have a highly developed and very professional approach to public relations and that this professional approach is widely respected in media circles. Furthermore, members of the Defence Forces are well known and respected in a number of other fields, which would include the Army bands and show-jumping where members of the Defence Forces have been seen on arenas all over the world. The service of members of the Defence Forces overseas is also something of which the general public is well aware and of which it approves.
The members of RACO occupy the senior and middle management ranks of the Defence Forces and they have a right and duty to be concerned about the image of their organisation. However, given the pro-active and well developed nature of the Defence Forces PR machine I respectfully disagree with the proposition that members of the public do not have an awareness of the Defence Forces. I might also add that if public awareness of the Defence Forces was not so high there would not be four questions on this subject today.
As regards morale, the Defence Forces are going through an enormous reform process, the need for which is accepted by all. The current restructuring programme cuts across all areas of military life and there will inevitably be major changes as the new organisation takes shape. While the implementation plan is essentially sound, a degree of change such as this engenders a certain degree of anxiety which in itself leads to a lowering of morale.
I referred earlier to the fact that the service of members of the Defence Forces overseas is something of which the genral public is well aware and of which it approves. I recently returned from an excellent trip to the UNIFIL area of operations in Lebannon in the company of the President.
