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Defence Forces Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Ceisteanna (163)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Army, Navy and Air Corps have assisted in emergencies including natural disasters over the past 10 years; if he is satisfied that the Defence Forces will retain this capacity in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49027/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Defence Forces have played a major role in emergency response, at both a national and local level over the past decade. Examples of this response in recent years are: the establishment of countrywide designated support teams to assist in response to the threat of an avian flu outbreak in 2008; provision of wide ranging support from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service during the extensive flooding experienced in 2009 and the assistance provided to the principal response agencies during the prolonged periods of severe weather from November 2009 to January 2010 and from November 2010 to December 2010. An ash plume caused by a series of volcanic eruptions in Iceland in April and May 2010 resulted in widespread disruption to air traffic and throughout this period the Naval Service provided search and rescue cover on the south west coast as the Irish Coastguard could not fly helicopters in the area. The Naval Service also was on standby to transfer HSE patients to the UK. In 2011 the Air Corps and the Army responded to a request from the local authorities to assist in fire-fighting efforts in Counties Donegal and Mayo where forest and gorse fires had broken out.

The recent reorganisation in the Defence Forces encompasses a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from three to two larger brigades, a reduction in the number of headquarters, re-deployment of personnel to operational units, the consolidation of under-strength Units and the disestablishment of certain units. I am committed to maintaining the capacity of the Permanent Defence Force to meet their operational requirements and I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the ability to fulfil all roles that may be assigned to them in response to an emergency or crisis event.

Questions Nos. 164 and 165 taken with Question No. 17.
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