Pearse Doherty
Ceist:393. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has ever undertaken research into the use of polygraph technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11585/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraGarda Equipment
Ceisteanna (393)
Freagraí scríofa
I am informed that my Department has not been involved in research in relation to the use of polygraph equipment.
Proposed Legislation
Ceisteanna (394)
John Deasy
Ceist:394. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the proposed Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 in view of the EU Commission's concerns about Irish legal costs and the need for system reforms and independent regulation. [11593/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government 2011-2016 undertakes to “establish independent regulation of the legal profession to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for addressing consumer complaints”. These undertakings complement those structural reforms in the EU/IMF/ECB Troika Programme of Financial Support for Ireland aimed at removing restrictions to trade and competition in the provision of legal services and at the reform of the legal costs regime.
Effect is being given to these structural reform commitments in the form of the extensive provisions of the Legal Services Bill 2011 which remains a priority under the Government Legislation Programme, has completed Second Stage in the Dáil and is currently awaiting Committee Stage - the Deputy will recall that priority also had to be given to the enactment of the Personal Insolvency Bill by the end of last year as a competing Troika programme objective. In meeting the concerns raised by the Deputy, the Legal Services Regulation Bill has four main levers of modernisation and reform, namely,
- a new, independent, Legal Services Regulatory Authority with responsibility for oversight of both solicitors and barristers.
- an independent complaints system to deal with public complaints including those relating to professional misconduct. There will also be an independent Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal to deal with both legal professions.
- an Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator that will assume the role of the existing Taxing-Master. The new Office, headed by a Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator, will modernise the way disputed legal costs are adjudicated and two new Taxing-Masters have already been appointed in anticipation of this reform. Determinations of costs made by the Adjudicator will be made public and the Adjudicator may also publish legal costs guidelines. Separately, the Bill sets out, for the first time in legislation, a set of Legal Costs Principles. It also imposes greater obligations on legal practitioners to disclose the actual or potential costs of legal proceedings to their clients.
- a framework for Alternative Business Models. The Bill facilitates new forms of legal services provision that take account of the emergent new business models in other common law jurisdictions and the huge advances made in business technology. These new or "alternative" business structures will be optional alongside current forms of practise and their availability will address a growing competitive disadvantage for our legal services sector.
Detailed preparation of the Legal Services Regulation Bill is ongoing at my Department in conjunction with the Offices of the Attorney General and of Parliamentary Counsel. As I have previously indicated, amendments to the Bill will be made available for consideration prior to the commencement of Committee Stage which is anticipated during the coming Session.
Proposed Legislation
Ceisteanna (395)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:395. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Fines Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11685/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to allow for the recovery of unpaid fines by the attachment of earnings. Last October, the Government approved the Scheme of a Fines (Amendment) Bill to give effect to this commitment and to make a number of other changes to the Fines Act 2010. I hope that it will be possible to publish the Fines (Amendment) Bill later this year, with a view to its enactment at an early date.
Prison Committals
Ceisteanna (396)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:396. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 26 February 2013, the costs in the twelve month period of committing the 6,197 males and the 1,682 females; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11705/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the average cost of an available, staffed prison space is calculated each year for inclusion in the Service's Annual Report. The cost of an available, staffed prison space during 2011, which is the latest year for which a figure is available, was €65,359. The Prison Service does not collate the cost associated with keeping an individual in prison for a particular offence. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with data in the manner requested.
Upward Only Rent Reviews
Ceisteanna (397)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:397. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will revisit upward only rent reviews in view of the importance of this issue to small and medium sized businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9209/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 123 and 124 of 7 February, the Government has no plans to re-examine the decision not to proceed with legislation to abolish upward only rent review clauses in commercial leases. The Deputy will recall that, following extensive consideration of this matter, the Government announced in December 2011 that it had decided not to proceed with such legislation. There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of private parties would find it extremely difficult to survive a Constitutional challenge. In addition, the Government was advised that any model proposed would require the payment of compensation to landlords whose rights were infringed in order to ensure that the proposal would be compatible with the Constitution and with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Government was strongly of the view that payment of compensation to landlords in such circumstances could not be justified in the current economic climate.
Although legislative intervention may not be feasible, NAMA is playing a role in dealing with problems caused by upward only rent reviews applying to NAMA properties. I have been advised that, by the end of 2012, the Agency had granted 212 applications for rent abatement with an aggregate annual value of €13.5 million. A further 56 applications are currently under review. Of the 276 eligible applications received to date only 8 have been refused representing a 97% approval rate by NAMA.
I would also mention that the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 provides for the establishment and maintenance of a Commercial Leases Database by the Property Services Regulatory Authority. This Database will assist in providing readily accessible, accurate information in order to determine the market rent payable in respect of comparable commercial properties. Work is underway to ensure that the Database will be operational at an early date.
Finally, I wish to highlight the existence of a rent review arbitration code which was drawn up by a group of experts whose membership was drawn from all stakeholders in the commercial property arena. The code, which can be found on www.justice.ie, provides a mechanism to deal with the resolution of rent review disputes in the commercial property sector. The effectiveness of the Code and the extent to which it is utilised by stakeholders will be reviewed and assessed over the next coming months.
State Bodies Mergers
Ceisteanna (398)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:398. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his proposed State agency mergers; and the process he intends to undertake to ensure mergers are consistent with his commitment under the Good Friday Agreement. [10426/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware , the radical streamlining of State bodies is a key deliverable of the Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011. This streamlining included the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012, as well as the critical review of a further 46 bodies to take place by the end of June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the Plan which can be found at: http://reformplan.per.gov.ie/files/2012/01/Public-Service-Reform-28112011.pdf.
On 31 October 2012, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, announced an update in relation to the programme of rationalisation of State bodies. With regard to State bodies under the aegis of my own Department, the bodies which were scheduled to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished in 2012 are:
Equality Tribunal (Rationalise the industrial relations/employee rights institutions - Labour Court, Labour Relations Commission, Employee Appeals Tribunal, National Employment Rights Authority and Equality Tribunal into single agency). This overall rationalisation of industrial relations institutions is being lead by my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The General Scheme of a Bill to provide for this measure has been approved by Government. Administrative responsibility for the Tribunal transferred to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with effect from 1 January 2013.
Equality Authority, Human Rights Commission (Merge to form new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission). I published the General Scheme of a Bill to replace the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission with a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on 5 June 2012. The Bill is currently being drafted and it is intended to have the legislation in place later this year. In parallel, arrangements are being made to select members of the new Commission. This is being handled by an independent Selection Panel set up for that purpose. The successful applicants will be appointed to the two existing bodies pending enactment of the necessary legislation to effect the merger. This will ensure that the two organisations can start to operate as a cohesive whole, with a transition programme being prepared and put in place, so that the board(s) can commence preparing a Strategic Plan for the new body and that work can be taken forward rapidly on the staffing review envisaged in the Working Group report. I consider that these proposals and this process is fully consistent with the Good Friday Agreement.
With regard to those bodies under the aegis of my Department, which were subject to critical review during 2012 and in respect of which the Government has decided to proceed with the measure (i.e. to be achieved by end 2013), these are as follows:
Forensic Science Laboratory: The Forensic Science Laboratory is to be brought within the ambit of the State Laboratory. A working group will be established to develop and work through areas of savings and future synergies.
Prison Visiting Committees (Reduce or merge Visiting Committees as there is now a Prison Inspectorate). The Government has approved the drafting of a General Scheme of an Inspection of Places of Detention Bill, which will include provisions to make Visiting Committees more effective, while they continue their role of visiting prisons, meeting with prisoners, and liaising on their behalf with prison authorities. A link will be established between the Visiting Committees and the Inspector of Prisons . As part of these plans, it is intended to expand the role of the Inspector of Prisons. Under the proposed arrangements, it is my intention that Visiting Committees would be able to report any urgent or major matter to the Inspector at any time.
Property Registration Authority (Merge the Valuation Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Property Registration Authority). Following the Government approval of the recommendation of the Critical Review on this proposal that a merger should proceed, work has commenced to advance this proposal.
Reception and Integration Agency, Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and Refugee Appeals Tribunal (Rationalise various Refugee Structures). Consolidation of refugee structures will be addressed through the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. The Bill will provide for the Office of the Refugee Applications Commission (ORAC) to be subsumed into INIS - the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. The Bill will also provide for the replacement of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal with the new Protection Review Tribunal.
Personal Insolvency Act
Ceisteanna (399)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:399. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to amend the Personal Insolvency Act to remove the veto from lenders over restructuring plans. [10584/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 757 of 16 January 2013, which indicated the following:
"The Personal Insolvency Act 2012, was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 19 December, 2012 and signed into law by the President on 26 December, 2012. The Act will be commenced in due course as the necessary preparations for administration of its provisions are finalised. The Act provides for the introduction of three new debt resolution processes, which though requiring approval by the court, are essentially non-judicial in nature:
- The Debt Relief Notice (DRN) will allow for the write-off of qualifying unsecured debt up to €20,000, subject to a three year supervision period.
- The Debt Settlement Arrangement (DSA) provides for the agreed settlement of unsecured debt, with no limit involved, normally over five years.
- The Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) will enable the agreed settlement of secured debt up to €3 million, although this cap may be increased with the consent of all secured creditors, and unsecured debt without limit, normally over six years.
The Act also continues the reform of the Bankruptcy Act 1988, begun in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 and will include, critically, the introduction of automatic discharge from bankruptcy, subject to certain conditions, after 3 years in place of the current 12 years.
The Deputy will appreciate that we have to see how the new legislation works, for some months at least. It is not for me to speculate as to the future conduct of any of the participants in an insolvency process. However, I am of the view that new personal insolvency laws, including the bankruptcy law reform, should provide a significant incentive for financial institutions to develop and implement realistic agreements to manage or settle debt with their customers. Such agreements should in time become the norm as the most sensible and cost-effective arrangements, particularly where the issue is one of dealing with repayment difficulties for a single major debt, secured or otherwise. These agreements could include measures to address mortgage arrears.
However, let there be no doubt that financial institutions must constructively engage under this legislation in the public interest, the interest of those in financial difficulties and the interest of their own institutions and credibility. If I find within a short period during the operation of this legislation that all or some of the financial institutions are intent on not engaging constructively with the personal insolvency arrangement provisions for whatever reason, I will not be slow to bring proposals to Government to amend the legislation.
The Government has engaged with the financial institutions in the lead-in to the enactment of this legislation. They understand exactly where the Government is coming from, what our concerns are and what they should do in the context of operating the legislation constructively and sensibly, engaging with personal insolvency practitioners and the circumstances of their customers and ensuring appropriate and sensible arrangements are made".
I have nothing further to add to that reply at this point in time other than to inform the Deputy that Part 6 of the Act was commenced on 18 January 2013 and the provisions of Part 1 (other than section 6), Part 2 (other than section 13), sections 25 and 47, sections 126 to 141, Part 5 and Schedules 2 and 3 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 came into operation on 1 March 2013.
Overseas Missions
Ceisteanna (400)
Pat Deering
Ceist:400. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) in the Defence Forces was not selected for a Kosovo appointment even though they were number one on the list with all fitness and medical tests passed. [11029/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have been advised by the military authorities that it is a requirement for enlisted personnel to have passed their fitness test prior to being nominated for Overseas appointments by their unit. In the case referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that the individual had not passed his fitness test prior to the closing date for nominations for the overseas appointment he was seeking and as such his application could not be considered. I have been further advised that the individual concerned has not made an appeal through recognised military channels.
Defence Forces Reserve Training
Ceisteanna (401)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:401. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 585 of 29 January 2013, when he expects to receive the information sought from the military authorities and the dates on which training resumed for Reserve Defence Force by unit in the First Southern Brigade. [11216/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I forwarded the material requested in Parliamentary Question 585 to the Deputy on Thursday, 28th February. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is currently undergoing a major re-organisation. This is consistent with the recommendations of the recently published VFM Review. The Military Authorities have advised me that training has been ongoing in all units of the RDF, including all units in the 1 Brigade. However, there has been some adjustment to the normal routine. In this context, from the 1 December 2012 to the 31 March 2013, training has been limited to unarmed training. The full range of training activities will resume from the end of March.
Defence Forces Reserve Strength
Ceisteanna (402)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:402. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence when the authority to recruit and maintain the new strength for the Reserve Defence Force will be delegated; if he is concerned at the effects of claimed delays for security clearance from An Garda Síochána which has an adverse impact in previous years and inhibited timely replacements. [11217/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Defence Vote, like other areas of the public sector, has seen significant reductions in funding in recent years. This has reduced the levels of paid training that was available for members of the Reserve and recruitment to the Reserve was restricted accordingly. The recently published Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force recommended the retention of a Reserve of approximately 4,000 personnel. In order to ensure the sustainability of this strength level it recommended withdrawing gratuities from members of the Reserve and re-directing this funding to increase the number of paid training man-days. This will facilitate appropriate levels of recruitment to sustain the new Reserve strength ceiling.
New Reserve organisational structures are currently being implemented. As part of this process the military authorities will assign existing members of the Reserve to posts within the new organisational structures. When this process in complete, the military authorities will identify if any vacancies exist and what level of recruitment may be required. Applicants to the Reserve Defence Force are vetted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit as part of the recruitment process. I understand that the processing times for vetting of applications is currently 8 to 10 weeks and this will be taken into account in the context of any future recruitment.
Defence Forces Reserve Training
Ceisteanna (403)
Noel Harrington
Ceist:403. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Defence the reason the briefing on the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces in the allocated training centre under the jurisdiction of the 12th Battalion Limerick did not take place in Skibbereen as previously agreed and directed by the Chief of Staff thus incurring high costs for each of the members of the reserve forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11282/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Arising out of the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force a schedule of briefings for personnel took place last month. The locations of these briefings were Mallow, Tralee, Limerick and Cork. These locations were set in consultation with the Officer’s Commanding of the extant units in order to maximise the numbers attending, and to minimise distances to be travelled by personnel, having regard to the geographic distribution of personnel across the region. This decision was communicated to the reserve units in ample time to allow personnel to make arrangements to attend, and to request military transport to be provided, if so required. I am given to understand that no request was made, by the twelve Skibbereen personnel concerned, for military transport to be provided to attend the Cork briefing.
Defence Forces Personnel
Ceisteanna (404)
Jack Wall
Ceist:404. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Defence his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Defence Forces; the actions he will take to address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11360/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Defence Forces General Routine Order No. 43 of 1955 prohibits serving personnel from communicating with members of the Oireachtas regarding service matters. Such matters should be dealt with through the chain of command or through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matters raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.
Appointments to State Boards
Ceisteanna (405)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:405. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Defence the number of appointments he has made from March 2011 to January 2013 to State boards; in the case of each appointment, the number of appointments that were made to members of the general public who submitted a curriculum vitae for the appointment; the number of direct appointments he made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11472/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Board was established in 2003. I appointed an interim Board as a temporary measure from 2011 and in this context none of the positions were advertised. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished and legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in December 2012 for the dissolution of the Board and the transfer of its functions back to the Department of Defence.
Membership of the interim Board appointed from 2011 is set out in the table below:
|
Name |
Nominating Bodies |
|
Civil Defence Board Chairperson |
|
|
Mr. Brian Spain Director, Department of Defence |
Nominated by Minister for Defence |
|
Civil Defence Board Members |
|
|
Mr. Cathal Duffy Principal Officer, Department of Defence |
Nominated by the Minister for Defence |
|
Ms. Clare Tiernan Principal Officer, Department of Defence |
Nominated by the Minister for Defence |
|
Mr. Robert Mooney Principal Officer, Department of Defence |
Nominated by the Minister for Defence |
|
Mr. Bill Smith Director General, Civil Defence Board |
Appointed as Director General, Civil Defence Board |
|
Mr. Ned Gleeson County Manager, Limerick City Council |
Nominated by City & County Managers Association |
|
Mr. Keith Leonard Assistant Fire Advisor |
Nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government |
|
Dr. Barbara Rafferty |
Nominated by Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland |
|
Ms. Becci Cantrell |
Nominated by the Environmental Protection Agency |
|
Ms. Veronica Forde Assistant Civil Defence Officer |
Nominated by the Civil Defence Officers Association |
|
Lt. Col. Tony Kelly SSO, Defence Forces |
Nominated by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces |
|
Chief Superintendent Orla Mc Partlin An Garda Síochána |
Nominated by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána |
|
Mr. Fergal Conroy |
Elected volunteer member of Civil Defence |
|
Ms. Eileen Joyce |
Elected staff member of the Civil Defence Board |
The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. I appoint the chairman and the non-military ordinary member with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I appoint the Army Medical Corps ordinary member on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
The position of Army Medical Corps ordinary member became vacant due to retirement in 2011, and I have since appointed Commandant Adam Lagun to the Board on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. The Army Pensions Act 1927 specifies that one of the ordinary members must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps.
In the context of settling the Estimates for the Department of Defence for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure. No appointments have been made since that decision was taken. All appointments to Boards under the aegis of my Department are in accordance with the relevant legislation or regulations.
Defence Forces Reorganisation
Ceisteanna (406, 407, 408)
Robert Troy
Ceist:406. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence his views on the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces/Reserve Artillery Regiment in Mullingar, County Westmeath,in view of the fact that at present his Department is renting a disused factory as a reserve military post whilst Columb Barracks, County Westmeath, continues to lie idle. [11574/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraRobert Troy
Ceist:407. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the reasons behind the decision for the Reserve Artillery Regiment in Mullingar, County Westmeath, ceasing to operate from 1 April 2013 and instead becoming a Reserve Infantry Company. [11575/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraRobert Troy
Ceist:408. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if he will reconsider the policy of moving Reserve Artillery Regiments to new locations in view of the high costs associated with the retraining of reserve units around the State. [11576/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 to 408, inclusive, together.
The Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), which was published in November 2012, made a broad range of recommendations aimed at ensuring the continued viability of the RDF into the future. I accepted these recommendations and subsequent proposals for a major re-organisation of the RDF, which were brought forward by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General. The new organisational structures will see Defence Forces Units having both Permanent and Reserve elements, which differs from the current approach. These new structures are scheduled to come into effect from the end of March 2013.
In order to achieve the required levels of interoperability, Reserve Combat Support elements (including Artillery) and Combat Service Support elements will be co-located with their Permanent Defence Force (PDF) counterparts in PDF installations. This will ensure access to equipment, expertise and facilitate appropriate training. In 2 Brigade, Reserve Artillery elements will be co-located with their PDF counterparts in Custume Barracks, Athlone. In 1 Brigade, Reserve Artillery elements will be co-located with their PDF counterparts in Collins Barracks, Cork. Members of the Reserve who are currently serving in existing Reserve Artillery Units may apply for a position in these locations or they may opt to apply for a position in an alternative Unit.
Reserve Infantry Units will be located in PDF installations and in sixteen other locations throughout the State. Mullingar was selected as one of these sixteen locations. Members of the Reserve who are currently serving in the Reserve Artillery Unit in Mullingar may opt to apply for a position in the new Infantry Rifle Company. Every effort will be made to facilitate members of the Reserve with their preferred choice.
Training will be provided to underpin and facilitate the re-organisation. This will be met from within the existing Reserve training budget. The implementation of the recommendations of the VFM Review, including new organisational structures, will reduce direct expenditure on the Reserve by approximately €11 million in 2013.
The consolidation of the Defence Forces Units into a smaller number of locations was a key objective in the defence modernisation programme and was recommended in many reports. The closure of Columb Barracks in Mullingar in March 2012 was a part of that programme and has realised direct cash savings in utilities, maintenance and security duty allowances, of approximately €400,000 per annum. The premises occupied by the Reserve in Mullingar are currently leased at a cost of €30,750 per annum and this is more cost-effective than maintaining Columb barracks as the training centre for the Reserve in that location. I remain committed to ensuring that we have a sustainable and fit for purpose Reserve Defence Force. I am satisfied that the changes that are being introduced will assist in achieving this goal.
Defence Forces Deployment
Ceisteanna (409, 410)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:409. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions since 1 December that army personnel from the Finner Army Camp, County Donegal, have travelled to Dublin or County Kildare to complete any duty; the functions they have performed; the reason personnel had to be taken such a distance; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11589/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDara Calleary
Ceist:410. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasion since 1 December that army personnel from Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath, have travelled to Dublin or County Kildare to complete any duty; the functions they have performed; the reason personnel had to be taken such a distance; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11590/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
It was not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile an accurate reply and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.