Vol. 500 No. 1
203 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the contents of his Department's submission on the White Paper on Defence; when the submission was drawn up; and when it was sent to the Department of Defence. [3705/99]
The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment contained in An Action Programme for the Millennium to publish the first ever White Paper on Defence. In agreeing to the preparation of a White Paper, the Government sought to provide the widest opportunity for consultation. In response to a request from the Department of Defence, my Department made a submission to that Department, of which I am aware, in January of this year. My Department's submission covered a range of issues in order to contribute to the wide debate on defence matters which the Government sought to promote. It aimed to assist in developing policies which will provide for the defence of the State in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible. It was not directed simply at identifying how savings on defence spending might be made.
Since completion of the Efficiency Audit Group review of the Defence Forces in 1994, my Department has co-operated closely with the Department of Defence in implementing the Government decision taken following consideration of the Price Waterhouse report, including the re-organisation and re-equipping of the Defence Forces.
