Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
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Military Investigations.
4 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on a recent incident in Gormanstown in which a member of the FCA sustained gunshot injuries; the nature of the injuries; the condition of the injured party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9400/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe member of the FCA in question suffered a gunshot wound to his forearm due to an accidental discharge during routine range practice on 7 March. His injury was not life threatening. He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he was subsequently operated upon that same evening.
The next of kin were immediately informed of the accident. The individual was transferred to St. James's Hospital, Dublin, some days later for further treatment. He was discharged from there on 18 March. His medical condition is described as comfortable and he is continuing with his recovery from his injury.
This incident is the subject of a military police investigation. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
I thank the Minister for his reply. We are all glad to hear that the young man in question should make a complete recovery. I also hope such an incident will not deter other young people from joining the Defence Forces, whether on a permanent or reserve basis.
Will the Minister inform the House if there is a counselling service available to Defence Forces members who experience stress and trauma in the wake of such an incident as occurred in Gormanstown? Will he further confirm if counselling was made available to the injured party or his comrades who witnessed the accident? I have been informed that such counselling may not have been made available to them.
The Minister stated the young man was transferred from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to St. James's Hospital for cosmetic surgery. Was the transfer initiated by the Defence Forces or by hospital authorities? Will physiotherapy we available to ensure a full recovery from the injuries sustained?
Since becoming Minister for Defence, I have been mindful to ensure the best possible care is provided in the case of accidents occurring to members of the Defence Forces. Some accidents which have occurred have been of a more serious nature. No expense has been spared in the medical care offered or in the subsequent recovery process in terms of counselling and other requirements. I will inform Deputy McGinley as to what happened in this case.
Soldiers are trained to be able to cope with serious traumatic circumstances as they must be able to withstand them when undertaking missions. When an incident such as this occurs, it is necessary to ensure that services are sufficient to meet the needs. I rarely receive complaints from Defence Forces members about the inadequacy of these services. Although I am sure everything necessary has been done in this case, I will check to ensure that this has happened.
It would be both unacceptable and unbelievable if, almost three weeks after the occurrence of this serious incident, the services had not yet been provided. I am sure the Minister will agree that it is important that they are available as soon as possible to avert any increase in stress.
Does the Minister have any concerns about the number of injuries sustained by Defence Forces personnel? According to a report from last November, between 1999 and 2003, €25 million was paid out in compensation for injuries sustained involving weapons, explosives and ammunition. That is a considerable sum and is in addition to the deafness claims. It is important that appropriate guidelines are followed rigidly for the discharge of weapons. Does the Minister believe there is room for improvement in terms of safety procedures? I do not refer to the incident which occurred in Gormanstown. I accept that the individual concerned was a young man who is a voluntary member of the Defence Forces. I also accept that his colleagues reacted admirably to what happened. That incident apart, I am concerned that the sum of €25 million was paid out in four years for injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Tragically, there have been serious accidents which consumed a significant portion of that money. Two incidents which I recall resulted in limb amputations. Deputy McGinley is correct; €25 million is a considerable amount of money. In recent years, the Defence Forces have considerably stepped up their health and safety provisions, but one can never do all that is required. The training is rigorous and the job involves a great deal of travel, including in difficult terrain abroad. Accidents occur to the general population and are more likely to take place in the difficult training and other circumstances which the Defence Forces encounter on overseas missions. When a genuine accident occurs, I want to be able to ensure that we can make adequate compensation. As Deputy McGinley suggested, I want to ensure that the occurrence of accidents are limited, in so far as it is possible, by the training modules and health and safety provisions. We can draw on past experience if some areas are creating difficulties to see if they can be eliminated because we could spend that money doing more positive things.
