John Perry
Ceist:45 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Defence if there is sufficient personnel and equipment to deal effectively with illegal drug importation via our seas. [9036/98]
Written Answers - Illegal Drug Importation.
Nora Owen
Ceist:104 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the Navy has adequate resources to tackle the importation of drugs by sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9050/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 104 together.
Responsibility for the prevention of the illegal importation of drugs rests primarily with the Garda Síochána 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 routine 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 taskings involving the prevention of illegal drug importation. Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment of the Joint Task Force, have helped 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, has also increased the role and effectiveness of the Naval Service in this area.
The strength of the Naval Service is kept under constant review in the light of operational requirements. Eighty recruits were enlisted in the Service in 1997, 50 to-date this year and arrangements are currently in hand for the enlistment of an additional 70 recruits. Seventeen apprentices are also being recruited and are expected to take up appointment next month. A competition to recruit ten Watchkeeping Officers to the Executive Branch of the Naval Service was advertised in March of this year and as a result, six officers have taken up appointment and an additional three are due to take up appointment on the 19th of this month. A total of 13 Cadets also took appointment with the Naval Service on 21 September, 1998.
The Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, four off shore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. At present six vessels are operational and one is undergoing refit. In December 1997 a contract was placed for the supply of a new Fishery Protection Patrol Vessel which is due to be delivered in September, 1999.
As part of the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan 1996-1998, the Government established a steering group to review the operations of the Air Corps and the Naval Service. Price Waterhouse Management Consultants were appointed to consider and make recommendations to the group and the Government published their report to the steering group in July 1998. The Government considered the final report from Price Waterhouse and agreed in principle the proposal that the State's future sea and air support requirements be discharged by the Naval Service and Air Corps, on the basis of an appropriate mix of multi-tasking/multi-capabilities and dedicated services and that Government decision-making on equipping and staffing the Naval Service and the Air Corps be made accordingly. The mix of multi-tasking/multi-capabilities and dedicated services will be decided in the context of the identification of the resources required to meet the level of military contingency roles as determined in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on Defence. Value for money principles shall apply in decision-making on the allocation to the military services, or to others, of various non-military sea and air support tasks.