Written Answers Nos. 103-111
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which members of the Defence Forces of all ranks throughout the Army, Navy and Air Corps have access to the highest quality of training and equipment comparable to other forces throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43732/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which proposals remain ongoing to upgrade military equipment throughout the Army, Navy and Air Corps with particular reference to the need to ensure the highest possible standards and reliability in respect of vehicles, technology, air craft and sea-going vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43736/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together.
I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including, training, equipment and up to date technology, enables the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas.
All elements of Defence expenditure were examined for the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011. In response to these resource constraints, the Defence Organisation has undertaken further significant reorganisation and reform. These changes will ensure that the Defence Forces organisational structures are configured to maximize required capabilities.
The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence and is a matter that is kept under constant review. The budgetary situation, in the context of the current difficult economic situation, will continue to dictate the level of funding available for new equipment, training and upgrades.
Decisions will be made accordingly on a strictly prioritised basis with a view to maintaining the capability of all roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces.
Training standards in the Defence Forces are constantly benchmarked against best international practice. Participation in ongoing overseas operations also necessitates multi lateral-training and assessment. This facilitates ongoing review of Defence Forces training methods and standards within an international military context.
I am also satisfied that Naval Service training techniques and technologies are up to date in all respects, with the most up to date equipment, including modern technology and IT equipment available to Naval Service personnel. With the delivery this year of the LE Samuel Beckett and forthcoming delivery of two new off shore patrol vessels in 2015 and 2016, combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair on the other vessels in the fleet, the Naval Service will continue to meet the required operational capability. The Air Corps will continue to conduct its training in accordance with industry best practices and to the highest standards using the most modern methods and equipment available.
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which military training here is in line with best international practice; if this applies to all branches of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43733/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraining and education of personnel at all levels are vital activities in any defence force as they enable such personnel to achieve their required standard of operational effectiveness.
The Defence Forces conduct training and education under three broad categories namely skills training, career training and education and collective training. Skills training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills to permit the development of organisational capabilities. Career training provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels from Section Commander to Brigade Commander. Collective Training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together. This moulds Sub-Units, Units and Formations into integrated and coherent combat forces. This provides the Defence Forces with the capabilities required to fulfil its roles and missions, both at home and overseas.
The Defence Forces deliver military programmes and modules meeting National and International standards encompassing both academic and military best practice. The Defence Forces also engage with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, ensures that the Defence Forces retain currency with regards to best international practice. This commitment ensures that the Defence Forces continue to maintain interoperable staffs and forces at home and abroad.
The Naval Service professional training and education is carried out at the National Maritime College of Ireland in partnership with the Cork Institute of Technology. The National Maritime College of Ireland, and by extension the Naval Service, adheres to the 1995 International Maritime Organisation Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for its seafarers’ professional qualifications. Quality assurance for naval training and education is audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland to meet the I.S. EN ISO 9001 Quality Management System and international best practice. The most recent successful audit of naval training at the National Maritime College of Ireland was carried out in May 2014. Naval Service professional and military training and education is recognised by the Nautical Institute for Bridge Watchkeepers and by Engineers Ireland for Naval Engineers. The national human resource management standard for the delivery of training and education in the Naval Service was also successfully audited and re-certified as meeting the Excellence Through People standard in September 2014. In addition the Naval Service conducts detailed and regular operational readiness evaluation for its ships at sea through its Fleet Operations Readiness Standards and Training Section where procedures are assessed, evaluated and compared with international best practice.
The Air Corps provides pilot training and air traffic controller training in line with international aviation standards. The Air Corps is recognised by the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency as an Aviation Training Organisation for the delivery of pilot and air traffic control training. Air Corps pilot and air traffic control qualifications are recognized in full by the Irish Aviation Authority. Air Corps apprentice students receive a HETAC level 7 Bachelor of Engineering degree as a Military Aviation Technician from the Dublin Institute of Technology through the Air Corps apprentice school. All further technical training is recognized by the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency.
As can be seen from the above training standards in the Defence Forces are constantly benchmarked against best international practice. Participation in ongoing overseas operations also necessitates multi lateral-training and assessment. This facilitates ongoing review of Defence Forces re-skilling and training methods and standards within an international military context.
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which periodic checks are made to ensure that resources available to the Air Corps and Naval Services continue to be adequate to meet the demand with particular reference to surveillance and search and rescue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43734/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps and Naval Service, have the necessary resources to meet these commitments.
With regard to surveillance, the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of territorial waters using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Naval Service carries out surveillance across the Irish EEZ and a vessel replacement programme is currently underway with one new vessel, LÉ Samuel Beckett commissioned into service this year, a second vessel, LÉ James Joyce due to be delivered in 2015 and a third vessel to be delivered in 2016.
With reference to Search and Rescue, the Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. In accordance with the current White Paper, the Defence Forces have a role in assisting the civil authorities (Aid to the Civil Authority) and both the Air Corps and the Naval Service provide support to the Coast Guard in accordance with an agreed Service Level Agreement.
A new White Paper on Defence is currently being developed in my Department. This will provide the Defence policy framework for the next decade and beyond. I am determined to ensure that the new White Paper fully addresses the Defence response to future security challenges and related resource requirements in a comprehensive way.
106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which recruitment in the Defence Forces has met requirements in terms of ensuring the viability and sustainability of the various branches of the forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43735/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,200 comprising 7,413 Army, 757 Air Corps and 1,030 Naval Service.
The manpower requirement of the Permanent Defence Force is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been, and is currently taking place, so as to maintain the agreed strength levels and to ensure the ongoing deployable capacity of the Defence Forces on operations.
To this end, from the General Service Recruitment Competition, launched earlier this year, 441 recruits have been enlisted to the Army and Naval Service since 18 August, of which 385 remain in training. It is intended that General Service recruitment will continue in 2015 from the recruitment panels formed from the current competition. In addition, 37 Cadets from the 2014 Cadetship Competition are in training , since 6 October 2014, in the Defence Forces Cadet School.
Direct Entry Competitions are held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. A competition for the recruitment of 5 Engine Room Artificers for the Naval Service is currently underway, with a closing date of 14 November 2014 while a competition for the appointment of Doctors remains open with applications being accepted on an ongoing basis.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
PDF Strength by Rank as at 30 September 2014 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500
|
- |
Lt Gen |
Maj Gen |
Brig Gen |
Col |
Lt Col |
Comdt |
Capt |
Lt |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
Sgt |
Cpl |
Pte/Cadet |
|
Army Rank Establishment |
1 |
2 * |
6 |
37 ** |
110 |
255 |
306 |
167 |
29 |
33 |
114 |
170 |
973 |
1,437 |
3,880 |
|
Army Strength |
1 |
2 |
6 |
33 ** |
103 |
244 |
297 |
226 |
26 |
33 |
107 |
163 |
879 |
1,353 |
3,940 *** |
|
Vacancies by Rank |
0 |
2* |
0 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
9 |
- 59 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
94 |
84 |
- 60 |
|
Air Corps Rank Establishment |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
36 |
65 |
48 |
8 |
4 |
56 |
14 |
131 |
183 |
324 |
|
Air Corps Strength |
0 |
1* |
1 |
2 |
12 |
32 |
50 |
30 |
8 |
4 |
47 |
14 |
125 |
163 |
269 *** |
|
Vacancies by Rank |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
1 5 |
1 8 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
2 0 |
55 |
|
Naval Service Rank Establishment |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
45 |
81 |
41 |
6 |
7 |
75 |
15 |
226 |
180 |
402 |
|
Naval Service Strength |
0 |
1 * |
1 |
2 |
12 |
44 |
48 |
50 |
6 |
7 |
66 |
15 |
171 |
174 |
434 *** |
|
Vacancies by Rank |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
33 |
- 9 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
5 5 |
6 |
- 32 |
|
Total Vacancies by Rank |
0 |
0* |
0 |
4 ** |
10 |
1 6 |
57 |
- 50 |
3 |
0 |
25 |
7 |
155 |
1 10 |
- 37 |
* For administrative record purposes, the two Major General Appointments in the Permanent Defence Force are held against the establishment for the Army. One of these posts is currently filled by an Air Corps Officer and the other by a Naval Service Officer.
** Within the Establishment figures there is provision for one appointment and one temporary appointment in the rank of Colonel in the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, as the current holders of the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary appointments in RACO are in the rank of Commandant and with no requirement to fill 2 of the Colonel overseas appointments no vacancy existed in the rank of Colonel in the Army.
*** Includes 19 Army Cadets, 23 Air Corps Cadets and 15 Naval Service Cadets .There are an additional 80 personnel on career breaks/secondment, who are not included in the strengths in the above table.
Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks: Brigadier General/Commodore, Colonel/Captain, Lieutenant Colonel/Commander, Commandant/Lieutenant Commander, Captain/Lieutenant (NS) Lieutenant/Sub Lieutenant, Sergeant Mayor/Warrant Officer, Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer, Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer, Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer, Sergeant/Petty Officer, Corporal/Leading Seaman, Private/Able Seaman.
108. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding ground rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43657/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a management company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43656/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 124 together.
The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position as Minister for Justice and Equality to comment on a specific case of payment of an annual ground rent by the holder of the leasehold interest to the owner of the freehold interest.
The general position regarding ground rents is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards remaining ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby a holder of a leasehold interest may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. To date, over 80,000 applicants have acquired freehold title to their property under this scheme. Comprehensive details of the manner in which the fee simple can be purchased under this scheme are available on the Property Registration Authority's website (www.prai.ie).
109. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will introduce legislation to strengthen unmarried fathers' rights to obtain access to their children, and to enable them to be consulted on the country of residence of their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43507/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnmarried fathers who are not living with their children may obtain access to their children either through agreement with the child's mother or, where it is not possible to reach agreement, by seeking access through the courts. Under the law as it stands, there is a strong mandate to the courts to consider the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration in making decisions on guardianship, custody and access.
In my proposals in the forthcoming Children and Family Relationships Bill I intend to maintain this important focus on the rights of the child, including the rights to maintain personal relationships and direct contact with both parents, where it is in the child's best interests. I also intend to ensure that breaches of court orders in relation to custody, access and maintenance can be dealt with appropriately by giving the courts additional powers to intervene where a parent, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the court's orders.
Where a child's mother proposes to take the child from the jurisdiction, her obligations to inform or seek the consent of the child's father depend very much on the circumstances. As a matter of best practice, in a situation where the child's father has ongoing contact with the child, he should be informed of and consulted about any proposed change of residence; where he is the child's guardian or has rights of custody, the child must not be taken from the jurisdiction without his consent unless the removal is explicitly permitted by the courts.
110. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the review of a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43511/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Mr. Dominic McGinn, Senior Counsel, was appointed to carry out an independent examination of the report of the Serious Crime Review Team relating to the Garda investigation into the death of Fr. Niall Molloy.
My Department has recently received a report from Mr. McGinn and is considering it in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.
111. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when land purchase annuity burden will be redeemed-written off in relation to a folio (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43519/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.
The Deputy will be aware of the service to T.D.s and Senators which provides information on the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round. I can further inform the Deputy that his query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.
