Vol. 658 No. 2
74 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the progress made in the civilianisation of the Defence Forces arising from the pay agreement and modernisation agenda agreed with the Defence Forces representative associations in the context of the Towards 2016 partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26010/08]
The White Paper on Defence 2000 covers the potential benefits of civilianisation and contracting out of certain military posts. It recognises that civilianisation could "release personnel for operational duties for which they are specifically trained". It could release them "from essentially administrative and other tasks which can more appropriately be undertaken by civilians". It further states: "The argument for civilianisation and contracting out is that it is generally more cost effective". The White Paper also recognises that there may be additional benefits such as enhancing continuity in certain appointments, which can be lacking due to the frequent transfer of military personnel.
Opportunities to civilianise certain posts are continuously being explored. This has resulted in agreement that certain posts that would in the normal course of events have been filled by military personnel will be filled by civilian personnel. Four such posts are being filled in the management information framework area and three in the military archives.
The review of implementation of the White Paper on Defence, which was published in April 2007, emphasised that the primary objective of civilianisation is to release soldiers for operational duties, thus increasing the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. The review recommended further civil and military exploration of options for civilianisation. Subsequent to the publication of the review, civilianisation was incorporated into the pay agreement and modernisation agenda agreed with the Defence Forces representative associations in the context of the Towards 2016 partnership agreement.
My Department is currently engaged in discussions with the military authorities to identify military posts that may be suitable for contracting out and civilianisation. This work in progress requires careful consideration of the costs and benefits arising from the civilianisation of any identified posts and assessing the feasibility of any such proposals, with particular reference to resource constraints. When potential posts have been identified, discussions with the representative associations, as envisaged in the pay agreement and modernisation agenda, and any other relevant stakeholders will commence.
I am disappointed that only seven positions have been filled through the civilianisation of the Defence Forces. Everyone will agree that the professionalism of the Irish Army today renders it unrecognisable from days gone by. Everyone in the Army wants to play his or her part and seeks promotion, within the confines of his or her qualifications. What is evident is a drawback and I would like to see greater progress. There has been much progress in the civilianisation of Garda positions which has made a huge difference. There should be greater drive with regard to the Defence Forces and its representative bodies. Agreement was reached on providing for this in the pay agreement and modernisation agenda. Surely it is fair to assume the delays are being caused by the Department and senior Army personnel. The process is not moving forward at as fast a pace as one might have expected.
Regarding the Deputy's comments on the speed at which the process is being driven, we do not want to impose it on anyone and are taking a partnership approach based on agreement. My answer may have been misleading in that I mentioned four posts in the IT area and three in the archives area, but the catering business has also been contracted out, which has released 100 soldiers for operational duties. I understand ten other posts are under consideration for civilianisation. Some 830 civilians are employed in the Defence Forces.
The White Paper of 2000 was based on the PricewaterhouseCoopers report of 1994. The world and the Army have changed greatly since. The Army has been downsized by around 25% and its focus has shifted very much towards overseas missions, in respect of which there less scope for civilianisation. We are proceeding more slowly than originally anticipated because circumstances have changed dramatically.
There seems to be no great urgency about civilianisation but perhaps the Minister is proceeding with caution. I have referred previously to the medical corps in this regard and I am sure the Minister agrees that there should be a role for the employment of medical doctors, given that there is such difficulty in attracting personnel to the Army medical corps. The position does not seem to be improving, despite the incentives provided. Does the Minister see an opportunity for attracting civilians into the Army on a permanent basis through the medical corps? There should also be scope for civilianisation of the dental service.
Is there a heading in the Department's budget relating to the civilianisation of military posts? Is there a cost factor that is slowing down this initiative?
I agree with Deputy Deenihan. As he will be aware, because the incentives did not succeed in increasing the complement of doctors and dentists to the level needed by the Army, rather than avail of the services of the private sector we will completely organise the Army medical corps. We have brought in consultants to advise us in this regard.
Regarding Deputy Wall's question, to the best of my recollection there is not a specific subhead for civilianisation, to which there is a cost attached. For example, an Army colonel may do work that could be done as well, if not better, by a civilian. If a civilian is employed to do this work and the colonel remains in situ, there is a question of extra staff, which is not a popular concept in the Department of Finance.
Perhaps that is the reason.
75 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Defence when he will conduct a review into the effectiveness and impact of the recent public information campaign on emergency planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25448/08]
A public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning was launched in April. The campaign was implemented following proposals that I brought to Government in late 2006 and January this year. My desire to implement a public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning stemmed from research that I had commissioned. The research clearly showed that there was a desire among the public to receive information on emergency planning.
The central focus of the campaign was the handbook, Preparing for Major Emergencies, which was delivered to every household in the country. It brings together for the first time details of the State’s emergency plans to respond to a wide range of emergencies. It also provides practical advice on what to do in the event of an emergency.
To coincide with the launch of the handbook a three-week advertisement campaign was undertaken to let the people know that it was on the way and encourage everyone to read it. I propose to carry out market research later this year to review the impact of the campaign.
I am encouraged to hear the publication of the handbook was based on professional research, which showed how little the general public knew of the State's emergency plans. It would be helpful to conduct follow-up research to determine whether awareness levels have increased. In this context, I have some linked supplementary questions. Is there a risk that the handbook could be out of date soon? Is the information contained within it too basic? Has the Minister received feedback on the success of the campaign?
I will answer the final question first. Anecdotal evidence suggests the campaign was a success, although we intend to conduct some relatively low cost market research later this year to determine what the impact the handbook has had. It should not go out of date soon because the information it contains is general. Any changes would be a matter for the lead Department and flagged on the website, on which the report is also available. I do not believe the information is basic because we researched what members of the public wanted and gave it to them. They wanted basic information and sought reassurance that there was an accessible system in place. That is what we gave them. We will carry out research later in the year to determine the success, or otherwise, of the campaign.
Those carrying out the research around the country later this year should ask members of the public whether they still have the booklet. I would say few do.
How often has the interdepartmental body which monitors emergency responses and which is under the chairmanship of the Minister met in the past year? How many permanent staff are in the office on Kildare Street? Is there a direct telephone line and is the number readily available to the public?
Is the Deputy talking about the emergency planning office?
That is still based in my Department. It has not yet moved permanently to Kildare Street.
That is the plan.
The emergency centre in Kildare Street is all geared up to be used in the event of an emergency. It is also being used by the various Departments on a fairly continual basis for table-top exercises. I do not know whether people still have the booklet, but I do know that the whole thing is on the Internet. I do not know about Kerry, but most people in Limerick and Wexford have access to the Internet.
Not everybody has access to it, unfortunately.
People have been made aware that the Government has a plan in place to deal with a range of emergencies. If one clicks onto the website, one will see telephone numbers one can ring if one needs further information.
What about the Government group — the emergency group within the Cabinet?
Is the Deputy asking about the national emergency committee?
Yes. Does it meet often?
I am chairman of the emergency planning task force, which meets every four or five weeks. We have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. I do not know how often the national security committee meets. I am not a member of that august body.
The Minister should be a member of it, given his position as Minister for Defence.
I thank the Deputy for his nomination.
During a previous Question Time, I asked the Minister if he would inquire into the possibility of including information about this matter in the information packages which are distributed during Houses of the Oireachtas school visits. The Minister gave a commitment to speak to the Ceann Comhairle to see whether that would be possible. I wonder whether any progress was made in that regard. Did the proposal get any reaction?
I gave an instruction to one of my officials to speak to the Ceann Comhairle. I am disappointed that nobody has got back to me about it yet.
I am just asking whether there was any response.
I will find out.
76 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if any of the vacancies for two non-commissioned officers and ten privates in the Army equitation school have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26013/08]
The day-to-day administration of recruitment in the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. I am informed by the military authorities that the Army equitation school has an establishment strength of 34, all ranks. Vacancies exist for two non-commissioned officers and ten privates, or grooms. As no serving personnel are available to fill these vacancies, arrangements are under way to fill them by means of direct recruitment. The equitation school has conducted interviews to establish the suitability of applicants to serve as grooms. The normal intake procedures, including medical screening, physical training tests and security clearance, are ongoing with a view to placing successful candidates on a panel for enlistment in the Defence Forces as privates, or grooms, in the Army equitation school.
It is obvious that this is a major problem. It is also being experienced in the racing industry's equitation schools. If one sees horses from any stable being brought out in the morning, one will observe that approximately 75% of those riding the horses are non-nationals. Do the problems being encountered by the Army equitation school result from difficulties in finding Irish personnel to fill the vacant positions? It is obvious that we have to keep the equitation centre, which has a fine international reputation in the sport of showjumping, at the top of the agenda. The planned return of Eddie Macken to the Irish showjumping team is a major boost in that regard. If the problem I have mentioned is being experienced, can we look at alternatives, such as the appointment of non-nationals to these positions to ensure they are filled?
I have no problem with that. I am sure the Department does not have a problem with it. I wish to focus on one of the reasons we have been unable to recruit new staff for the Army equitation school. It would be ideal if we could recruit people to work in the school from within the people we have listed at the moment. As the work in question involves early starts and late finishes, there tends to be a high turnover of staff, unfortunately.
I know.
Some people who apply to work as grooms choose not to follow up on those applications. The normal intake procedures, which include medical screening, physical training tests and security clearance, can take a great deal of time. I will state honestly that we have had some difficulty with security clearance. By the time successful candidates are called, they may have secured alternative employment. Members will be interested to learn that 29 of the 40 people who were interviewed recently have been deemed suitable. They will now have to undergo the usual series of tests, such as the physical training test and the medical screening examination, and the Garda clearance check. If they come through those tests successfully, they will be placed on a panel. It is obvious that the first ten people from the panel will be considered. People will be recruited from it as vacancies occur.
There are two aspects to the Army equitation school. The Minister has spoken about personnel, on foot of Deputy Wall's questions, but I would like to ask about the school's horses. Many people expect that if Ireland wins a gold medal at this year's Olympic Games, our equestrian team will be involved. Will the Minister consider increasing the derisory figure of just €300,000 which is available to the Army to buy horses?
The Deputy has gone beyond the scope of Question No. 76.
I have. If I have had one success over the last year, it is that I got the Minister to follow in my footsteps a week after I visited the Army equitation school. The fact that the young fellows up there were calling me "Minister" must have sent out a message. Fair play to the Minister — he was there the following week, accompanied by Mr. Joe Walsh and three cameramen. I had some success in that regard anyway.
I think the cameramen were following Mr. Walsh. As I have said previously in the House, if the staff of the Army equitation school want to acquire an Irish-bred horse, and the horse passes the various veterinary examinations, etc., money will not be an obstacle in acquiring such a horse. I am sensitive to the Deputy's remarks about gold medal prospects, etc. As far as my Department is concerned, money will not be an obstacle.
Great.
77 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Defence the air assets available to the Irish troops serving as part of EUFOR Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25881/08]
81 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Army mission to Chad; if any of the costs will be met by either the United Nations or the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26022/08]
91 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the nature of the air support provided to the Defence Forces in Chad and its origins and cost; if it is operated by members of the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25953/08]
96 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Defence the mandate and rules of engagement under which the Irish troops deployed to EUFOR Chad operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25880/08]
100 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the adequacy of equipment and in particular vehicles being used by Irish troops serving with EUFOR in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26024/08]
104 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are satisfied with the level of air support being provided by the French to Irish forces serving with EUFOR in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26029/08]
112 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Chad deployment is operating as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25951/08]
116 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to extend the mandate of the Irish contingent serving with EUFOR beyond March 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26025/08]
119 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the proposed role of the two Ukrainian crewed helicopters hired to support Irish troops serving with EUFOR in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26030/08]
125 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if the mandate of the Irish contingent serving with EUFOR includes an obligation to protect humanitarian staff working in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26026/08]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 81, 91, 96, 100, 104, 112, 116, 119 and 125 together.
Ireland has deployed 411 personnel to the UN-mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic. Some 371 personnel are deployed with the 97th Infantry Battalion in Goz Beida in the south east of Chad, 22 personnel are deployed in the force's headquarters in Chad and 18 personnel, including Lt. Gen. Pat Nash, are deployed in Paris. The EU force, as defined in UN Security Council Resolution 1778, is authorised to support the UN by contributing to the protection of civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons. The mission is mandated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel by helping to improve security in the area of operations. The mission is also mandated to contribute to protecting UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and ensuring the security and freedom of movement of its staff and associated personnel.
The mandate for this mission is robust and will be conducted under Chapter VII of the UN charter. The rules of engagement for a Chapter VII mission allow for the use of all necessary force to ensure the success of the mission. Therefore, the EU force is authorised to support the UN and take all necessary measures within its capabilities and area of operation to fulfil its functions. I have previously outlined the size of the Irish battalion's area of responsibility. In light of the size of the area of operations, it needs to be understood that the Defence Forces cannot be everywhere at the same time. Ongoing patrolling, surveillance, intelligence and monitoring of the situation, including contacts with the local population and village leaders, will enable the contingent to develop a situational awareness that will help it to direct and target its operations and patrol plans. The deployment of helicopters to Goz Beida will enable the Defence Forces to project troops forward quickly. They can also call on air assets as required.
The theatre of operations for the Chad deployment poses serious logistical challenges due to the nature of the operation and the mission area and environment. Force protection will, as always, be a key consideration. The Defence Forces will have all the required military hardware to fulfil their role in the mission. They have deployed a full range of force protection assets, including 17 Mowag armoured personnel carriers and four close reconnaissance vehicles and indirect fire capabilities, namely, mortars. These will provide the necessary armoured protection, mobility, firepower and communications. The Defence Forces have also deployed a suite of robust tactical communications systems.
As the House will be aware, significant investment has been made in Defence Forces equipment in recent years to provide them with the most modern equipment to undertake tasks assigned to them by the Government. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern requirements from the health and safety perspective. Ongoing investment in the Defence Forces will ensure this remains the case and will continue to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence.
Regarding air support for the Irish contingent, the Defence Forces have contracted through a UK company for the supply of two Ukrainian Mi8T helicopters which arrived in the theatre on 28 June. They are being used mainly for operational deployment, while also facilitating the rapid movement of supplies, stores and equipment from the forward logistic base in Abéché to the battalion base in Goz Beida. The contract value will depend on the number of hours flown by the helicopters over the duration of the contract but is expected to be in the order of €3 million to end March 2009.
EUFOR also has four French attack helicopters and five French Puma helicopters in the theatre which are under the operational control of the operational commander. The French also supply to EUFOR one reconnaissance mission per day by a Mirage, as well as having two Mirages on standby for close air support. The Polish battalion has three Mi17 helicopters in the theatre. In addition, EUFOR is arranging for the supply of four further utility helicopters.
The estimated cost to the Defence Vote arising from participation in this mission for 12 months will amount to approximately €57 million. Provision to meet the additional costs of the operation has been made in the Defence Vote for 2008. Unlike a UN blue hat-type operation, all the costs of deployment, repatriation, rotation and sustainment, together with strategic and in-theatre tactical lift of the contingent, are met by each of the relevant troop contributing countries. The only costs met by contributions from EU member states are generally those of establishing and operating the headquarters facilities.
The EUFOR mission in Chad is mandated to run for a 12-month period, to 15 March 2009. It is envisaged that a UN-led blue helmet mission will replace the present EUFOR mission thereafter. The Government is committed to retaining troops in Chad up to March 2009. No decision has been made on whether we will continue in Chad after that date.
The mid-point review of the operation of the EUFOR mission is due to be completed in August. At that point discussions will commence on the successor mission and how the hand-over to the new mission can be conducted, while ensuring continuity of security and humanitarian assistance for both refugees and displaced persons.
A person who has a relation in Chad has informed me that it is the roughest and toughest area to which the Irish Army has been deployed. Every assistance should be given to the troops.
Six extra helicopters had to be hired, two by the Irish Army and four by the United Nations. Is this extra to what was envisaged in the first instance as being necessary? Did the French renege on their original promise to provide helicopters? The Minister mentioned four or five aircraft under different guises. Were they what the French had promised originally? If the three Polish helicopters are included, was the total number part of the first package? There was some doubt in the initial stages and the Minister did not at first agree to Army personnel going to Chad unless there was a proper air service. Are the six extra helicopters required because of what the Army has seen in its operations, or are they required because the French did not supply the necessary number as promised? Were the three Polish helicopters part of the original agreement the Minister obtained from the United Nations before the Defence Forces went to Chad?
I agree with the Deputy's comment about the terrain in Chad. It is certainly the roughest I have ever seen. It was a wonderful operation to have transported all the equipment and the camp set up so quickly in such a remote part of the world.
Regarding air support and logistical backup, the position is that we knew in advance what the operation commander's advice was and also that of our own military personnel. We needed a certain amount of air support to declare initial operational capability. We also envisaged that we would need some extra support as time passed.
The Deputy and the House will be aware that we had great difficulty in mustering the requisite air support. As Members can see from the figures I gave, the French are doing quite a lot. It was not only the French from whom we requested air support. This is an EU-led mission and all member states were contacted. Unfortunately, as Members can judge, assistance from most of the bigger countries was not forthcoming. I listened to a considerable number of lectures recently during the Lisbon referendum campaign about the European Union becoming too militarised. It took us almost 12 months to find a mere 3,700 troops with the requisite backup to save people's lives in Chad. That certainly does not suggest a militarised European Union to me.
We are hiring helicopters, which is not unprecedented in the case of a peace mission, although it is unusual. We had hoped our fellow EU countries would come up to the mark. We knew we had to get those helicopters and had hoped it would not be necessary to hire them on the open market. However, we were prepared to do so, if required. Other countries did not step up to the mark, which is why we had to hire the aircraft.
As Deputies can see, the theatre of operations is very big. Nevertheless, we know where the refugee camps are and where the internally displaced people are located. When we have the four extra utility helicopters, we will have plenty of air support.
I agree with the Minister and Deputy Wall that air support is critical. I understand it is the beginning of the rainy season in Chad and it will be impossible to travel overland in jeeps or 4WDs. Therefore, air support and transport are essential if the troops are to carry out their functions properly.
I have three questions. First, I understand the issue originally raised by the UN spokesperson concerned the protection of humanitarian staff working in Chad, which caused some confusion at the time. Will the Minister clarify that, apart from protecting refugees and the camps, the Irish mission's brief is to protect humanitarian workers in the vicinity of the camps? It is important to have this clarified. The Minister mentioned the subject in his reply.
Second, a matter I raised earlier, two UAV spy drones went missing.
The Deputy should pose his question.
How many are left? Were the drones replaced?
My third question concerns air transport capability. If Defence Forces personnel are to serve on similar missions, should we not obtain our own air transport which not alone could be used on such missions but also employed in our huge humanitarian aid programme, in the process giving us more independence and certainty? It would also save money in the long run.
The first question, on the extent of the brief of EUFOR in Chad, is important. Its brief is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons, of whom there are approximately 450,000. It also has a mandate to protect UN personnel, equipment and installations. It is not just a matter of protecting the lives of people in the camps but also of ensuring the flow of aid to them is not interrupted. This involves a specific mandate to protect NGOs and UN personnel.
On the question of whether we have replaced the drones, I understand we have. One of them appears to have malfunctioned. We are discussing the issue with the supplier. As the Deputy knows, we have a number of drones. As far as I know, we have replaced them but I will double check for the Deputy.
With regard to acquiring our own air transport, we must consider the question of value for money. I take the Deputy's point that the humanitarian aid element could be included in this regard. The matter will be considered in the context of the new White Paper on defence which we will start preparing shortly. To date, we have not gone down this road because we have generally been advised that we would not have enough work for the equipment in question to justify the cost of acquisition and maintenance.
Has any unpredicted logistical problem arisen because of the terrain or other problems? Is the Minister planning further visits to Chad? At our last Question Time Deputy Deenihan asked about telephone calls home by Irish troops in Chad and the Minister said he would investigate the matter. What is the position in this regard?
The Minister has obviously seen conditions on the ground at first hand. It is only right that we should congratulate everyone involved in this considerable operation. It is the toughest ever and everyone involved must be congratulated as a consequence.
On the problems with the terrain, one arose because Chad does not have any port, thus necessitating the shipment of much of the equipment to Douala in Cameroon, from where it had to be brought across country to Goz Beida at the other end of Chad. A certain amount of damage was done on this long journey which I understand was in excess of 2,000 km. The damage has, by and large, been repaired. I inspected certain items in kitchens etc., that should have been working when I arrived but which were not because they had been damaged in transit. This does not surprise me given the terrain. I plan to return to Chad after the rainy season to see how those on the mission are settling in.
I told Deputy Deenihan that I would raise the issue of telephone calls and when in Chad, I asked a specific question about it. I was told that, ordinarily in a four-month tour of duty, there were 45 minutes of free telephone access. In the case of a six-month tour of duty, one has 90 free minutes. However, there is now an alternative to the telephone, that is, the Internet. I was assured by the Irish force commander that, while the authorities were trying to adhere as closely as possible to the 45-minute rule, they were being fairly flexible. He told me troops had virtually unlimited access to the Internet, by way of e-mail and voicemail. There are plenty of opportunities to communicate with home.
I raised the issue of parcels at Christmas with the Minister, which issue is very important to personnel. Has the Minister made provisions in this regard?
As a result of an undertaking I gave in the House on the last occasion to Deputy Deenihan, I stated I would raise the matter with the Irish commanders in Chad. I have done so and asked them to try to accommodate the delivery of parcels at Christmas. As the Deputy knows, the supply flights are to resupply necessary equipment. However, I have told the commanders that if at all possible, they should accommodate the delivery of parcels. They probably will do so.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
