Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2009
6 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Defence the services to the State which are going to be affected by the fact that the Defence Forces have downsized by 18% following the implementation of the White Paper and are now 500 below strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42201/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe White Paper on Defence 2000 charted an ambitious modernisation agenda for the defence organisation. The White Paper built upon previous reforms, including those introduced in the Defence Forces review implementation plan.
The downsizing of the Permanent Defence Force from 11,500 to 10,500, arising from the implementation of the White Paper, allowed for the re-balancing of the pay to non-pay ratio of the Defence Forces to 70:30. The proceeds of pay savings were necessarily re-invested in equipment and infrastructure. In addition, the Government agreed that the proceeds of property sales would also be made available for re-investment in the Defence Forces. A wide range of other recommendations included in the White Paper were subsequently implemented. The net effect of this reform agenda has been a significant improvement in the capabilities of the Defence Forces and overall a more efficient and effective defence organisation.
The defence and security environment has continued to evolve over the period since publication of the White Paper. The defence organisation has adapted to this changed environment. The additional workloads from the establishment of the Office of Emergency Planning and the evolution of European security and defence policy have all been met from within existing resources.
Overseas, UN peace support operations have changed, with an increased reliance by the UN on regional organisations such as the EU and missions with more robust Chapter VII mandates. This has driven the requirement for greater interoperability with high tech European armies. The Defence Forces have met these exacting standards and are now partners of choice for nations involved in such missions. The recent deployment to Chad, the most challenging logistical operation that the Defence Forces have undertaken to date, highlights the significant progress that has been made. This is in addition to the ongoing delivery of high quality services at home.
The reforms within the Defence Forces are widely acknowledged as a public service success story. The Defence Forces have delivered all services required of them since publication of the White Paper.
Notwithstanding the success of the White Paper, we are now in challenging times. The economic reality is such that the defence organisation must contribute to the correction of the public finances. The report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended a reduction in Permanent Defence Force numbers by 500, to be achieved over a two to three year period "as operational requirement allow". In March of this year, the Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment and promotion within the public service.
I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Finance with regard to targeted exemptions from the moratorium. There are higher turnover levels in the Defence Forces relative to other areas of the public service and this is normal for military organisations. Due to this higher turnover level we have now reached a strength level of 10,013 with effect from 31 October 2009.
Planned expenditure levels for the Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the special group's recommendations, the impact of the moratorium and the delivery of defence services. This matter is subject to an ongoing deliberative process which will conclude shortly.
The Minister mentioned the Office of Emergency Planning. Can he confirm how many times the office has met this year? Has it met specifically under the direction of the Minister and the Government task force to discuss possible events next Tuesday? The Minister mentioned the possibility of a plan for next Tuesday. Can he reassure the House on the plan?
The question relates to the downsizing of the Defence Forces.
The downsizing will affect the effectiveness of the Defence Forces on Tuesday.
I admire the Deputy's ingenuity in expanding the question.
Is the Minister satisfied with the supports that exist for the Prison Service, the Fire Service and for local authorities in case of flooding? There is major flooding across the country today and local authority staff are dealing with it. If something similar happens on Tuesday, will there be people there to deal with emergency situations? The Minister does not seem to have thought about emergency planning for Tuesday.
I am anxious to facilitate the Deputy but we cannot have a debate that does not feature on the Order Paper.
If the Chair admires Deputy Deenihan's ingenuity, I am in awe of it. We must, however, clear up what we are talking about. The Office of Emergency Planning is a permanent office in the Department. Deputy Deenihan is referring to the task force on emergency planning.
It is part of it, it chairs the task force.
It does not, I chair the task force. The Office of Emergency Planning services the task force. That office is always there. I will get the information on the number of times the task force has met this year.
Has the Office of Emergency Planning met on a number of occasions or does it meet all the time?
It is a permanent office staffed by civil servants. The task force comprises meetings of representatives from the different Departments with the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the emergency services. It has met several times this year, I will get the exact number for the Deputy.
The Office of Emergency Planning is well aware of the situation that might pertain next Tuesday. There are established procedures whereby the Army can be called upon for back-up by various providers of emergency services. Those procedures are in place. The emergency planning office is well aware of them and if the Army is needed in any capacity on Tuesday, it will be available to assist.
What does the Minister anticipate the strength of the Defence Forces will be on 31 December? In the context of the cutbacks, what will be the operational strength of the Defence Forces in the short to medium-term? Will it be 10,000?
I would have to guess how many people would leave the Army between now and 31 December, I do not know. We are getting near the 10,000 level. Even the McCarthy report recommends a minimum of 10,000 to be achieved over a two or three year time scale but we are already there. I would not like the Army to drop under 10,000. That is why I have asked for permission to recruit extra personnel. I would like to get permission from the Department of Finance to keep the numbers as close as possible to 10,500 as possible. That was the figure indicated in the White Paper as being the optimum number needed to carry out the task the Army has to do both at home and abroad, to provide sufficient numbers on rotation for foreign missions, given that we are committed to providing up to a maximum of 850 troops abroad at any one time. That requires enormous back-up.
I have made my representations and I am hopeful I will succeed.
This is a very serious question. In view of the fact that some military personnel are now operating above their rank, could there be a potential health and safety issue in this regard? Is the Minister satisfied there is no health and safety issue as regards such people giving advice, direction and orders, effectively executing a role that is above their normal rank?
No such matter has been brought to my attention, but I am aware there are a number of difficulties due to the fact that people acting above their rank are not being recognised as such. I have addressed this matter out in some 42 cases in relation to the Chad mission and 20 cases with regard to the Kosovo mission, where people are actually in the field. I am also trying to address this problem at home and in this regard I have made proposals to the Minister for Finance to the effect that a certain number of back-up appointments should be recognised.
