Written Answers Nos. 112-119
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the strength by which the Defence Forces has fluctuated in each of the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7349/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
- |
31 December 2011 |
31 December 2012 |
31 December 2013 |
31 December 2014 |
|
Total PDF Strength |
9,438 |
9,359 |
9,236 |
9,280 |
In relation to the figures in the table, the serving strength figures for 2013 and 2014 are the Whole Time Equivalent strengths. The fluctuation in strength is based on the serving strength at the end of the preceding year.
The 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.
A new General Service Recruitment competition was launched in March 2014. Recruitment from the panels established under this competition commenced on 18 August, 2014.
Targeted General Service recruitment will continue in 2015 from the recruitment panels formed from the current competition. It is planned that these panels will remain in place until they are exhausted in 2015. 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 assigned by Government both at home and overseas.
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current number and location of Irish troops currently serving overseas, on various peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7350/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 1 February 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 432 Defence Forces personnel to 11 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas including the lead organisation for each mission are listed in the tabular statement attached. In addition to the personnel listed in the tabular statement there is one officer deployed to the Embassy of Ireland in Freetown, Sierra Leone under the Emergency Civilian Assistance Team initiative, to assist in Ireland's Response to the Ebola Crisis in West Africa.
The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 199 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 Defence Forces personnel.
AS OF 01 FEBRUARY 2015
|
Defence Force Personnel |
||
|
1. |
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
9 |
|
|
UNIFIL 47 th Infantry Group |
186 |
|
|
UNIFIL Sector West HQ |
4 |
|
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and Syria |
13 |
|
|
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
|
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
4 |
|
|
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
|
UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, Golan Heights Syria |
8 |
|
|
UNDOF 46 th Infantry Group |
130 |
|
|
TOTAL |
359 |
|
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
||
|
EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
|
|
EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission) |
10 |
|
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
12 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
388 |
|
|
2. |
OTHER DEPLOYMENTS |
|
|
RSM (Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
|
UK EBOLA TREATMENT CENTRE (Sierra Leone) |
5 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL OTHER DEPLOYMENTS |
12 |
|
|
3. |
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
3 |
|
|
4. |
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
5 |
|
|
5. |
NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015 |
|
|
FHQ Sweden |
14 |
|
|
6. |
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
|
|
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
|
Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
|
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
|
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
|
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
|
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
432 |
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he remains confident that the Defence Forces have ready and adequate access to equipment, hardware, personnel and operational procedures, to facilitate an early response in any emergency situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7351/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order including the protection of the internal security of the State rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
A wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies and the Defence Forces hold regular coordination and liaison meetings with An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues.
In relation to non-security related emergencies, whilst the Defence Forces are not a Principal Response Agency as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role.
At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency.
The Defence Forces are also represented on the eight Regional Working Groups that have been established under the Framework and, on an ongoing basis, designated members of the Defence Forces, based around the country, act as Liaison Officers to Local Authorities.
The full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is available for deployments in response to emergencies and natural disasters.
In this regard, the Defence Forces hold a wide range of engineering and transport plant and equipment for military purposes. All such plant and equipment suitable for use in emergency situations is made available as the need arises.
In relation to the Naval Service, all vessels, in addition to their fishery protection role, also undertake general surveillance, security, pollution monitoring, and Search and Rescue in support to the Irish Coast Guard. These activities assist in detecting and preventing emergency situations throughout Ireland's maritime jurisdiction.
The role of the Air Corps includes the provision of an emergency inter-hospital Air Ambulance service in support of the HSE. It is also supporting the HSE in a pilot emergency aero medical support service operating primarily in the West of Ireland. The Air Corps also has a maritime surveillance function undertaken by its maritime patrol aircraft and both it and the Naval Service provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations.
I am satisfied that Defence Forces personnel have a modern and effective range of equipment, including telecommunications and logistical equipment, needed to fulfil all roles that are assigned to them by Government.
115. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the details of the proposed structural separation of alcohol products by retailers and what this separation entails; if physical barriers or stand-alone units will be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7309/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that I, together with my colleague the Minister for Health, have decided jointly to review, in the context of the forthcoming Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, matters relating to structural separation of alcohol products from other products in mixed trading premises, including appropriate future enforcement mechanisms.
116. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the provision of an open prison option for female prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7225/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that in March 2014, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service published a joint strategy on female offenders entitled "An Effective Response to Women Who Offend".
The Strategy sets out how the two Services will work together and contains a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women prisoners assessed as at low risk of re-offending. This approach was also recommended by the Strategic Review of Penal Policy which reported in September 2014.
A subgroup was appointed in 2014 by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service to consider this matter. The group conducted an examination of the female prisoner population in order to establish how many persons may be suitable for open centre conditions and to ascertain their geographical locations, and gave considerations to a number of possible locations for an open centre.
The group has submitted a report to the Director General for his examination of the various options and this process of deliberation is currently ongoing.
117. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress, to date, in providing supported accommodation and inter-related services for women offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7227/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Abigail Women's Centre run by Depaul Ireland and Novas Ireland opened in Kildonan Road, Finglas, in December 2014. This new facility has increased capacity to accommodate women referred by both the Probation Service and Irish Prison Service.
Novas Ireland also operates an accommodation unit for women who are allocated places through Dublin City Council on the same site. The separate facilities are located in adjoining buildings with opportunities to share resources.
This is a dedicated women's initiative involving a range of agencies working together including the Dublin Regional Housing Executive, Dublin City Council, Probation Service, Irish Prison Service, Health Service Executive, and the Dublin City Education and Training Board. The Centre provides supported accommodation and a wide variety of inter-related services for vulnerable women. On-site supports include life skills, education, training for the workplace, family mediation, addiction services, physical and mental health services, budgeting and housing.
118. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in providing restorative and reparative initiatives, tailored for women offenders in the community, and in custody; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7228/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Probation Service works in partnership with the Irish Prison Service to put in place targeted responses in relation to women offenders. This is undertaken under the auspices of the sentence management process. An in reach service is being provided by the Probation Service to work with women in Limerick prison with dedicated Probation Officers working in the community in other regions. In conjunction with other State and voluntary partners a centre has been developed in Finglas which provides supported accommodation and a suite of tailored services for women offenders referred from the community or leaving custody.
The Community Service Scheme, along side the more recently established Community Return initiative, operates primarily from a reparative model, requiring offenders to address the indirect harm to the community caused by their offending behaviour by performing unpaid work benefitting the local community. Women specific Community Service and Community Return options are continuously being identified and women offenders have been placed on them on an on-going basis.
Women are referred to restorative justice reparation panels by the Courts and the Probation Service and there is an awareness of the need to have a gender specific approach tailored to this category of offender. There are further plans to implement programmes of reparation nationally and support offender rehabilitation under the Probation Service Restorative Justice Strategy in 2015.
119. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012; when it is due to return from Committee Stage; her plans to make amendments, based on recommendations outlined by the Irish Penal Reform Trust, to reform sections of the Bill referring to proportionate rehabilitative periods, number of convictions, maximum threshold, suspended sentencing and relevance of convictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7231/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current position is that the Bill has passed Committee Stage in the Dáil, having passed all stages in the Seanad. However, before the Bill could be taken at Report Stage, a 2013 UK Court of Appeal judgment necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions in both the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Spent Convictions Bill. That review has been completed and amendments to the Vetting Act and consequential amendments to the Spent Convictions Bill are currently being drafted. I expect the amendments to be brought before the Oireachtas before the summer.
The UK Court of Appeal found that the UK policy of disclosing all criminal convictions was in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court found that disclosure of old minor criminal records should not be automatic but should instead be based on consideration of the relevance and proportionality of the conviction. The Attorney General has advised that similar considerations should apply to disclosure of criminal convictions in this State.
All of the recommendations outlined by the Irish Penal Reform Trust are being considered. However, I must also have particular regard to the Court of Appeal Judgement and the advice of the Attorney General.
