Vol. 496 No. 4
30 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he has taken to assist with adequate equipment for the Defence Forces to ensure that they can continue to play a meaningful role in international peacekeeping. [17898/98]
37 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Defence Forces are properly equipped to deal with all international duties that they may be asked to perform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22982/98]
96 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the levels of military equipment within the Army; the plans, if any, he has in this regard; if he has satisfied himself with the levels of equipment available to staff in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9051/98]
155 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he proposes to improve the quality and standard of military equipment in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23145/98]
165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the proposals, if any, he has for expenditure in respect of modernising and equipping the Defence Forces over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23155/98]
169 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the nature of the equipment to be made available to the Defence Forces in view of the programme outlined and envisaged by the Price Waterhouse report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 37, 96, 155, 165 and 169 together.
In recent years, considerable sums have been expended under the Defence Vote for new weapons, transport and communications equipment and on providing new and upgraded living and operational accommodation for the Defence Forces.
Some of the more important developments in the improvement of Defence Forces' equipment are: a new fishery patrol vessel, due for delivery in 1999; the supply of 16 new turrets and 16 fire directing systems for fitting to existing Panhard armoured cars — the first two turrets and two fire directing systems will be delivered in December 1998 and fitted in January 1999 and the balance will be delivered and fitted in the fourth quarter of 1999; the purchase of two batteries of refurbished 105 mm light artillery guns to replace "25 pounder" guns which are now obsolete — one battery, equal to six guns, was delivered in May 1998 and the other battery in June 1998; delivery, in December 1998, of the final instalment of equipment to complete a major programme to provide new tactical VHF radios for the Defence Forces at a total cost of approximately £10.5 million; and expenditure this year of approximately £3.5 million on new troop carrying vehicles, such as four by four three-quarter tonne trucks, buses, motor cycles and ambulances.
The programme to procure 40 armoured personnel carriers over a five year period is now well under way. A project team was established in 1997 comprising civilian and military personnel and was tasked with identifying the most suitable type of APC for the Defence Forces, the numbers and variants required and the estimated costs involved. The procurement process will be undertaken in two stages by way of a tender competition which will be conducted in accordance with Government contracts procedures.
In stage one a general request for proposals based on a broad parameter specification was issued to interested companies on 24 April 1998 with the aim of establishing product availability in the marketplace as well as an indication of the costs involved. Proposals were received on 27 May 1998 and are being evaluated at present. In the second stage, which will commence shortly, a request for tenders based on a more precisely defined specification will issue to a restricted list of companies — those deemed successful in the first stage. The project team, already in place, will manage the procurement process through all stages to ensure that value for money is obtained for the expenditure involved. It is expected that a contract will be in place early in 1999.
Requests for participation by the Defence Forces in international peacekeeping missions are considered on their merits by the Government on a case by case basis. Where a decision is taken to respond to any such request the military unit concerned will be provided with the equipment necessary for the carrying out of its mission. The Defence Forces are currently participating in a number of overseas missions involving a total of approximately 750 personnel and troops serving on such missions are provided with adequate resources to carry out their tasks.
I welcome the improvements in equipment for the Defence Forces. Is the Minister satisfied that adequate equipment is available to the Defence Forces for future requests for peacekeeping missions? It is increasingly expected that those participating in peacekeeping missions will bring their own equipment and that it will be the most up to date available. I welcome our involvement in Kosovo. While Kosovo may not be the best example to use, is the Minister satisfied with the equipment that is available there? Is he determined to ensure our troops have the necessary equipment so that they can participate in an appropriate way in peacekeeping missions?
We will not supply any weapons or equipment in Kosovo. We will have an observer status and our personnel will accredit what is happening there. In terms of what will be required of our personnel in the future, there will always be conflicts, a need for crisis management and intervention by the UN. It is important we ensure there are improvements in our equipment to enable us meet those demands.
As the return on investment in the voluntary early retirement scheme, in terms of the 50 per cent of savings that will start to accrue next year which was agreed with the Department of Finance, begins to flow back, it will provide a further opportunity for investing in the type of equipment that will be necessary to support intervention on the international front under the United Nations banner. In a span of three years we have doubled the amount of capital invested in equipment and that is beginning to have results in terms of what is happening. We are building from a relatively low base and much more needs to be done. We will not have unlimited funds, but it appears we will have a further opportunity to enhance our position as the funds from the success of the voluntary early retirement scheme begin to flow in the future.
Is the Minister satisfied there will be a drawdown of those funds next year?
We are in the final stages of negotiations on the Estimates. We have no particular difficulty in meeting our targets in this regard. When we need to purchase equipment we have to negotiate our case with the Department of Finance. It is not the case that we can spend money on it because we have it, we must be satisfied it is required for a real need and the planning for that has not begun. We will discuss it as matters progress over the next few years.
Are there any new applications for missions before the Department or have we met the requirements in respect of all the missions we have been asked to assist?
There is no application with the Department. I am considering the prospect of having some negotiations with at least one of my partners in the Union on an arrangement to deploy Irish troops to provide services which are at present being provided by personnel in another country under an existing commitment. It would involve a transfer of personnel from one operation to another. That is necessary because our troops have been in South Lebanon for 20 years and we have to consider alternative ways to continue to attract people to become involved in the Defence Forces. This proposed arrangement is at an early stage and I would not like to indicate to the House that it will work, but I hope we will be able to make progress. I will inform the House as matters progress whether that will prove possible.
I am sure the new chief of staff would agree with that proposed change.
I am not as bad as the Deputy might think.
That is bad. The Minister should not take that comment seriously.
The Deputy is coming around.
Will the Minister be more precise as to when tenders will be issued for APCs? I note he said in reply to an oral question on 1 October that the position had not moved forward. During his recent visit to Vienna did he raise with his fellow EU Defence Ministers the matter of the various equipment in the Army? In view of the recent comment made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that we might consider joining Partnership for Peace, is the Minister satisfied that the necessary steps are in train to address our equipment needs?
The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a strong statement that joining Partnership for Peace is under constant review, but it is too early yet to make formal decisions. The Deputy can rest assured that when I represent this country in my humble way in Vienna or elsewhere I do not let the Defence Forces down in terms of any equipment they have. I do not discuss any disadvantages we may suffer in that regard. I have to try to remedy those and no one else can help in that regard.
Regarding the first part of the Deputy's question on APCs, the contract will go to tender early in the new year. The identification of our needs in this area and gathering all the relevant information has proved to be a tedious operation. It is the first time in a long time we have undertaken such a major project. What we buy must satisfy our needs for a considerable time into the future, therefore, it is important to get it right. I am sure the Deputy will agree that a delay of a few months in the contract going to tender will not make much difference and that it is much more important to get matters right.
Has the Minister any plans to include the FCA in international peacekeeping missions or has he ruled that out?
There was a poor response to that proposal when it was raised in the context of a discussion by at least one of the associations representing the Permanent Defence Force. That surprised me because we were discussing preliminary proposals. Reliance on the Reserve Defence Force to supply certain needs and facilities in terms of the United Nations is an ordinary procedure in most countries. Because the people who make up the Reserve Defence Force have permanent jobs they are not available to participate in missions. However, where such personnel have a special expertise, which may be required at times when there is a shortage of personnel with such expertise in the Permanent Defence Force, it is logical to combine the two forces and to have realistic discussions about it. That would not take from either side because there is a need to view the Defence Forces as a whole and to take advantage of strengths within the Defence Forces. We will discuss this matter with representatives of the various associations as time progresses. I would like to see that happen even though there would be a very limited requirement for such reserve personnel. It would be good for the Reserve Defence Force to make such an input.
We have moved away from the question which was about equipment.
There is one Deputy to blame for that. He comes from County Wicklow, covered the world with three supplementary questions and got away with it.
