Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:62 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if state of the art communication facilities will be available to Irish troops serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29623/03]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if all troops serving abroad or likely to serve abroad have received the full complement of vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29624/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.
Due to the equipment modernisation programmes that have taken place in the Defence Forces over the past few years, Irish contingents being deployed overseas are among the best equipped personnel. I am advised by the military authorities that state-of-the-art communications facilities are provided for all Defence Forces missions overseas. In their operational role, the Defence Forces are equipped with modern digital tactical radios for short range and long range communications. These allow the headquarters maintain contact with personnel on the ground. Global positioning system equipment is also provided as a handheld device and embedded GPS is provided within some of these radios which allows automatic tracking of the user. In addition, for patrolling in areas of doubtful normal radio communications, two types of satellite links are provided viz. Iridium handheld phones which provide voice facilities and which have been proven by Defence Forces personnel worldwide on other missions and Inmarsat satellite C, fitted to a vehicle and which provides data capabilities worldwide.
Voice and data facilities, Defence Forces internal e-mail, are available for operational use at any time. These facilities allow communications between the headquarters in the mission area and Defence Forces headquarters. In addition, telephone access is provided, at less than local Irish tariff rates, to personnel to contact their families and friends. This facility is normally available from 4 p.m. daily and private phone booths are provided for this purpose. Internet facilities are provided for all personnel through an Internet cafe located within the headquarters. All equipment is provided by the Defence Forces communications and information services corps and personnel pay for usage time.
In the case of all members of the Defence Forces who are being deployed on overseas duty, it is the advice of the director of the medical corps that they should receive the appropriate immunisations or vaccinations in a sufficient period of time prior to deployment to ensure that the desired immunities have been established before arrival in the mission area. The exact schedule for each mission varies according to the diseases known to be present in the area, and from time to time, in accordance with changes in medical knowledge and according as new immunisations become available.
In cases which demand that personnel be deployed rapidly, accelerated dosage schedules, in conformity with manufacturers guidelines, are used. With the exception of immunisation against polio, tetanus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, which all personnel receive on enlistment, I am advised by the military authorities that it is not considered sound medical practice to immunise personnel against diseases unless they are due to travel to areas of risk for the disease in question. Therefore only personnel selected for overseas duty receive immunisation against diseases other than the above mentioned.
Question No. 64 answered with Question No. 1.