asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to holding joint exercises between the Army and the Garda Síochána. [23004/98]
Priority Questions. - Defence Forces and Garda Exercises.
I have not held any discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to the holding of joint exercises between the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána. Neither have there been discussions at official level.
There is constant liaison between the Defence Forces and the Garda concerning all matters relating to aid to the civil power operations. The question of holding joint exercises is an operational matter and is, therefore, one for arrangement between the Garda authorities and the military authorities. Aid to the civil power exercises have taken place in the last year which have included personnel from the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána.
In 1993 the Government laid down new roles for the Defence Forces, one of which was the aid to civil power which involved assisting the Garda as and when requested. If this is to be carried out in a professional manner it is important both forces combine regularly on various exercises. Will the Minister agree there is a gap in the training and will he seek to address it?
I am afraid that, while the Minister puts a great deal of work into the deafness claims and the reorganisation, the day to day running of the Defence Forces is being neglected. One of the main reasons for the decline in morale is that members of the Defence Forces are preoccupied with just two matters——
The Deputy is making a statement — he must ask a question.
——reorganisation and deafness claims. As a result, basic training, particularly joint exercises with the Garda Síochána, is being neglected.
I reject the contention by Deputy Timmins that the day to day operations are being neglected. He should not make me reel off again all the positive things I am doing which his party was unable to do when it was in office. However, let us leave that aside for just one day.
There is constant liaison between the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces but it is done on a discreet basis. There have been various meetings between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief of Staff about related matters. We have received no complaints from the public or the services about a breakdown in any area. There has been tremendous support on all sides when it has been called for. The best example is the task force on drug interdiction, where the Naval Service, the Garda and the customs service have worked together tremendously well with very good results.
I am very sorry that Deputy Timmins, with all his experience, does not recognise these positive developments but instead is lurking in the dark of the past. He should not worry about morale — morale will always be down a bit when two out of five of the permanent members of the Defence Forces have claims against their Minister and when hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' funds must be spent daily in the courts to meet claims which have no parallel anywhere else in the world. It is very hard to expect a force to have a high morale when that is happening. We will raise morale wherever we can. However, if we fail to manage the problems related to the deafness claims not only will they hurt us now, they will haunt us for decades to come.
The Minister is missing the point. The Army and Garda have not been involved in any major operational activity together in the past seven or eight years. This is a very important role for them and if they are——
I remind the Deputy it is Question Time — he must ask a supplementary question.
It is very difficult for the Opposition to get across its point of view to the Minister when it is limited to a bullet question. The Minister has the opportunity of three or four minutes to reply.
The Minister is allowed a great deal of leeway — we have just had a long lecture from him.
That is the nature of Question Time — it is a time for questions and not for statements.
Does that apply to the Minister too?
Is it important that the Army and Garda carry out joint exercises?
My immediate answer is "yes, as far as that is desirable". I will support the notion anywhere I can and if there are problems there I will have another look at them.
Does the Deputy have a further question?
No, that is fine. I thank the Minister.
It is possible to get through to me by degrees.