Written Answers Nos. 489-503
489. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the commitments in the programme for Government on improving the lives of persons with disabilities. [29820/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the Government’s commitment to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are incorporated into all future housing policies. While addressing the needs of people with disabilities is already well established in housing policies, the commitment in the Government Programme provides a platform to consolidate and build on the significant work to date and ensure that momentum is sustained in future housing policy development.
The National Housing Strategy for people with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 and associated National Implementation Framework were jointly published by my Department and the Department of Health. They set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities and were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy and congregated settings report. Building on the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to meet the housing needs of people with disabilities, the NHSPWD has been extended to 2020 to continue to deliver on its aims.
Implementation of identified actions in the NHSPWD is being driven primarily by the Housing Agency by means of a dedicated sub-group comprising representatives from my Department, the Health Service Executive (HSE), Department of Health, local authorities, the Irish Council for Social Housing and various disability representative organisations. The Housing subgroup, established in 2012, is progressing a range of priority actions and will continue to progress this work under the extended timeframe. An Implementation Monitoring Group (IMG) was established in 2012 to monitor and report on progress, and has met on ten occasions since then with a further meeting scheduled for October. Three progress reports on implementation covering the period September 2012 to December 2016, have been published by the IMG to date. These comprehensive reports are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/policy/people-disability/housing-people-disability.
One of the key measures achieved in 2016 under the NHSPWD was the establishment of Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) in all housing authorities, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. These are chaired by Directors of Housing in each authority and include HSE and disability representative organisations. Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years. These Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, will allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and will support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms. This is a more targeted and responsive way to meet actual need identified rather than, for example, designating a specific number of new social housing builds that are fully wheelchair accessible.
My Department provides funding under three separate schemes for necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works to the houses of people with disabilities and older people in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, and to facilitate the continued occupancy of their own home for as long as possible. There is a strong social benefit accruing from this funding in terms of supporting older people, and people with a disability, to continue to live independently in their own homes and, in some cases, to avoid an outcome where people may otherwise require social housing. In 2016, funding totalled €56.25m and 8,010 households benefitted from the grants. In 2017, €59.8m is available under this scheme and the target is to reach 10,000 homes.
In addition to funding for adaptation works to existing dwellings, my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funds up to 100% of project costs advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to provide accommodation for people with specific categories of need, including people with disabilities. A provision of €66 million is available for the scheme this year.
490. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to examine increasing the Army service pension; the last time that an increase was applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra501. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to increase the Army service pension; and the last time an increase was applied. [33230/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 501 together.
The last occasion that public service pensions, including Defence Forces pensions, were increased was on 1st September 2008. Up until then, Defence Forces pensions were generally increased in line with, and from the same operative date as, relevant pay increases applied to serving military personnel. Such public service pension increases normally required the prior approval of the Minister for Finance/Public Expenditure and Reform. Since then, no increase in military pension rates has been authorised as there were no relevant pay increases for serving PDF personnel during that period. The same situation has applied across the public service. Instead, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts 2009 – 2013 reduced public service pay and pension rates.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to Question numbers 373 and 378 on 20 June 2017 on the question of public service pension increases.
In his reply, the Minister said that in the past, the occupational pensions of public service pensioners were generally adjusted in line with changes in the wages or salary of the pensioner's grade at retirement. Sometimes referred to as "pay parity", this non-statutory linkage lapsed in 2010, when the values of pensions in payment were left unchanged notwithstanding salary cuts at the beginning of 2010 which affected all public servants under the financial emergency legislation.
Due to a grace period associated with the 2010 salary cuts, public servants who retired in the 26 months following those cuts, that is, in the period up to end-February 2012, had their pensions based on the higher "pre-cut" salary levels. This has led to the current situation whereby post February-2012 retirees, on a like-for-like basis, mostly receive lower pensions than their earlier-retired counterparts.
In addition, since the beginning of 2011 a progressively structured "Public Service Pension Reduction" (PSPR) has decreased the rates of public service pensions above specified thresholds. A significant part-reversal or unwinding of PSPR is under way as set out in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015.
The Minister in his reply on 20 June 2017 went on to say that the lapsing of pay parity along with the pension differential arising between pre and post-2012 retirees, have created the conditions under which – as we move beyond "FEMPI" legislation and the progressive removal of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) towards more normal pay and pension setting conditions in the public service – the issue of how to adjust the post-award value of public service pensions, through appropriate pay or other linkages has required consideration.
In this context, the Minister referred to Section 6.2 of the proposed Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 – published last month – which indicates that over the duration of that agreement if ratified, policy on public service pensions in payment will be guided by the following three elements:
First, the need to adopt an equitable approach to the various public service pensioner cohorts differentiated by date of retirement (in particular pre and post end-February 2012) is affirmed.
Second, for those who retired or will retire after end-February 2012, to the extent that they retired on reduced salaries for pension award purposes, they will receive pension increases in line with pay increases received by their peers currently in employment, in accordance with the terms of the collective agreement.
Third, when alignment is achieved between pre and post end-February 2012 pensioners, as will happen progressively for salary ranges up to €70,000 in 2020 under the proposed collective agreement, pay increases will continue to benefit pensions in payment for the duration of the agreement.
Finally, as regards the progressive removal of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) from pensions in payment, this is happening in three stages over the period 2016 to 2018. When complete on 1 January 2018, it will mean that most public service pensioners are not affected by PSPR. I understand that by virtue of the 2016/2017 changes, about 90% of military pensioners are not impacted by the PSPR at all.
491. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33128/17]
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 as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 May 2017, the latest date for which de tails are available, was 9,044. The following tables indicate the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 May 2017 across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended 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.
Army
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Major General |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Brigadier General |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Colonel |
34 |
1 |
35 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
99 |
2 |
101 |
|
Commandant |
222 |
33 |
255 |
|
Captain |
21 1 |
43 |
254 |
|
Lieutenant |
129 |
17 |
146 |
|
Sergeant Major |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
28 |
0 |
28 |
|
Company Sergeant |
88 |
1 |
89 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
148 |
2 |
150 |
|
Sergeant |
770 |
54 |
824 |
|
Corporal |
1,228 |
112 |
1,340 |
|
Private |
3,721 |
198 |
3,919 |
|
Cadets |
65 |
13 |
78 |
|
Total |
6,778 |
476 |
7,254 |
Air Corps
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
11 |
0 |
11 |
|
Commandant |
32 |
2 |
34 |
|
Captain |
46 |
6 |
52 |
|
Lieutenant |
21 |
0 |
21 |
|
Sergeant Major |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Company Sergeant |
52 |
0 |
52 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
10 |
1 |
11 |
|
Sergeant |
99 |
6 |
105 |
|
Corporal |
142 |
9 |
151 |
|
Private |
216 |
8 |
224 |
|
Cadets |
27 |
1 |
28 |
|
Total |
669 |
34 |
703 |
Naval Service
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
13 |
0 |
13 |
|
Commandant |
43 |
8 |
51 |
|
Captain |
39 |
13 |
52 |
|
Lieutenant |
33 |
2 |
35 |
|
Sergeant Major |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Company Sergeant |
66 |
0 |
66 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
13 |
0 |
13 |
|
Sergeant |
161 |
7 |
168 |
|
Corporal |
122 |
8 |
130 |
|
Private |
497 |
25 |
522 |
|
Cadets |
20 |
2 |
22 |
|
Total |
1,022 |
6 5 |
1,087 |
492. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra494. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Reserve Defence Forces have taken on to date in 2017 with regard to all services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra496. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and to date in 2017. [33133/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 494 and 496 together.
As of 31 May, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve was 1,941 personnel. The following table sets out the details requested by the Deputy:
Army Reserve (effective strength)
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lt. Colonel |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Commandant |
49 |
2 |
51 |
|
Captain |
40 |
1 |
41 |
|
Lieutenant |
160 |
30 |
190 |
|
Sergeant Major |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Company Sergeant |
45 |
0 |
45 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
56 |
2 |
58 |
|
Sergeant |
238 |
19 |
257 |
|
Corporal |
279 |
68 |
347 |
|
Private |
693 |
125 |
818 |
|
Total |
1,572 |
247 |
1,819 |
Naval Service Reserve (effective strength)
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lt. Colonel |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Commandant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Captain |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Lieutenant |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Sergeant Major |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Company Sergeant |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sergeant |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Corporal |
17 |
5 |
22 |
|
Private |
53 |
14 |
67 |
|
Total |
102 |
20 |
122 |
I am informed by the military authorities that as of 10th July 2017, there have been 90 new inductions into the RDF, with 8 of these being female as follows:
- 76 (7 female) Army Reserve and
- 14 (1 female) Naval Service Reserve.
With regard to the First Line Reserve and number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and 2017, the military authorities are currently collating this data and I will provide it to the Deputy when it is available.
The next RDF General Service Recruitment campaigns for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve will begin in late July 2017. The campaigns will run for several weeks post Leaving Certificate with a view to inducting successful applicants at Easter and in Summer 2018 for camp participation. I remain committed to increasing recruitment to both the PDF and RDF. In the context of both finite resources and personnel, it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance in terms of PDF and RDF recruitment, so as to deliver the desired effects of maintaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to undertake all roles assigned to it by Government.
493. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Permanent Defence Force has taken on to date in 2017 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Military Authorities that a number of recruitment competitions for entry in to the Permanent Defence Force are currently underway. They include the 2017 Cadet Competition and the General Service Recruitment Campaign .
Recruitment up to 10 July 2017 totals 250 personnel. Details are set out in the following table:
|
|
General Service Recruits Army |
General Service Recruits Navy |
Air Corps Apprentices |
Direct Entry Naval Service Officers |
Military Medicine |
Totals |
|
Male |
179 |
27 |
11 |
8 |
1 |
226 |
|
Female |
21 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
24 |
|
Total |
200 |
29 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
250 |
With the support of the Chief of Staff, it is intended to continue to recruit new personnel in order to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government, both at home and overseas.
495. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of suspect devices that the Army disposal unit dealt has dealt with by county to date in 2017, in tabular form. [33132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams respond when a request for assistance is made by An Garda Síochána in dealing with a suspect device. The number of EOD callouts, which include viable devices, hoaxes, false alarms, post-blast analysis and the removal of unstable chemicals in laboratories dealt with up to date in 2017, by county, are set out in the following table:
|
County
|
Number of EOD Callouts
|
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Donegal |
3 |
|
Dublin |
23 |
|
Kildare |
6 |
|
Laois |
3 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
50 |
497. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has identified suitable capability projects for the European Defence Fund and for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme; and if he will be proposing options for the joint procurement initiatives within the European Defence Fund as the European Council has requested member states to do. [33134/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Commission published a number of documents on 7 June 2017. These included a communication proposing the establishment of a European Defence Fund and a proposal for a Regulation to establish a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (DIDP). The purpose of the Defence Fund is to promote research and innovation and contribute to the strengthening of the European Defence technology and industrial base, and to further stimulate the development of key defence capabilities.
The Fund proposes to coordinate, supplement and amplify national investments in defence by pooling resources individual Member States can achieve greater output and develop defence technology and equipment that may not be feasible on their own. The Fund will also foster innovation and allow economies of scale thus reinforcing the competitiveness of the EU defence industry.
The Fund has two strands with different legal and funding structures (or "windows") which are complementary and are being gradually deployed:
Under the Research Window, the EU will offer direct funding (grants) for research in innovative defence products and technologies, fully financed from the EU budget.
Under the Capability Window, Member States will pool financial contributions to jointly develop and acquire key defence capabilities. The EU will offer co-financing from the EU budget on the Development phase through the proposed European Defence Industrial Development Programme. The EU will also support member states’ collaborative efforts in helping them deploy the most suitable financial arrangements for joint acquisition with a view to incentivise co-operation and leverage national financing.
On 22 June 2017 the European Council called for a number of actions in relation to the Defence Fund and DIDP, the first of which is for agreement on the DIDP proposal. A Friends of the Presidency Group has been established by the Estonian Presidency of the EU which will be the initial working group format through which the proposal will be considered by Member States. It is intended at this early stage, to have the proposal adopted by the first quarter of 2018, and to have the first spend under the Programme in 2019. It would be premature to begin identifying capability projects before negotiations on the draft Regulation has commenced.
Ireland has participated in a number of capability development projects with other Member States through the European Defence Agency. The primary reason for Ireland’s participation in the European Defence Agency since its establishment in 2004, is to support the development of Defence Forces capabilities for peacekeeping and international crisis management operations.
Ireland also participates in a collaborative database known as CODABA which is managed by the European Defence Agency. This database provides a platform for engaging with other Member States on a number of fronts including collaborative and/or joint procurement.
498. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria or commitments he deems appropriate for Ireland to make within Permanent Structured Co-operation; and if it is planned that Ireland will participate fully within this new structure. [33135/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PESCO criteria set out in Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol 10 annexed to the Lisbon Treaty, outlines the general guidance on participation in PESCO. Member States have to be both willing and able to contribute forces to the EU, participate in equipment programmes and European Defence Agency (EDA) activities, participate in EU Battlegroups, invest in defence equipment, improve interoperability and enhance their military capabilities. Ireland can support the development of an inclusive PESCO which delivers, through modular streams, essential capabilities for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations in the area of international crisis management. An agreed governance structure, the types of collaborative projects and initiatives Member States are willing to commit to, and a clear rationale as to the requirement for these to be addressed through PESCO, needs to be firstly determined before PESCO can be formally established. Member States, supported by the EDA and EEAS are continuing to work together in order to consider and develop a shared understanding of the common commitments, goals and criteria on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Treaty, as well as the governance model.
Further meetings are scheduled to take place later in July and August to develop this further and where it is hoped that the common criteria and conditions for participation can be further elaborated and defined. In that regard it is too early at this juncture to give a definite indication as to whether Ireland will participate in PESCO or to make any commitments in that regard. However, Ireland’s objective is to remain at the centre of CSDP and EDA projects and we will be seeking to see PESCO develop in a way that enables Ireland to participate, if not in the first stream, then at a future date.
499. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the research and investigations undertaken which led to the observation submitted by his Department in its role as a named external consultee advising the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on a foreshore lease planning application (details supplied) on Galway bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33189/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra500. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the submitted observation on a foreshore lease planning application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33190/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.
In March 2016 my Department was advised by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government that they had received a foreshore lease application from the Marine Institute for the testing of prototype wind, wave and tidal energy devices at the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site. My Department’s views on the application were requested.
The following observations were submitted to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government:
“In all locations where wind turbines are permitted it should be a condition that they meet the following lighting requirements:
1. Single turbines or turbines delineating corners of a wind farm should be illuminated by high intensity obstacle lights.
2. Obstruction lighting elsewhere in a wind farm will be of a pattern that will allow the hazard be identified and avoided by aircraft in flight.
3. Obstruction lights used should be incandescent or of a type visible to Night Vision Equipment. Obstruction lighting fitted to obstacles must emit light at the near Infra-Red (IR) range of electromagnetic spectrum specifically at or near 850 nanometres (nm) of wavelength. Light intensity to be of similar value to that emitted in the visible spectrum”.
In April 2016 the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government advised that a revised application had been submitted by the Marine Institute. On foot of further consultations, the above observations remained unchanged.
502. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons to whom Doxycycline was prescribed in each of the years 2006 to 2012, respectively. [33239/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the Military Authorities that to collate the figures requested by the Deputy would require a Medical Officer(s) to examine the medical files of all Defence Forces personnel that travelled to malaria prone areas within the period of time specified.
Due to the scope of the request and the demands it would place on already limited resources, I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy.
503. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit; the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33336/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe outcome of the vote of 23 June 2016 in the UK leading to the triggering of Article 50 by the UK in March 2017 does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement in the EUs Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). That said, given the significant role the UK has played in relation to the evolution of CSDP, it is likely that Brexit will have some impact on future developments in the Defence sphere at EU level. Until however the UK has indicated what kind of relationship it will seek with the EU in the CSDP area and negotiations have been finalised, it is impossible at this juncture to predict future possible outcomes in this regard.
At Department level, structures that have been put in place to address the potential challenges arising from Brexit include the assignment of responsibility to a senior official at Assistant Secretary General level in relation to Brexit related matters. The senior official is leading the Department’s input to deliberations within the framework established across Government and is supported in that role by a number of branches in the Department. The senior official represents the Department on the Interdepartmental Group on EU-UK Affairs which is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and is engaged with the identification of key strategic, operational and policy issues arising from Brexit. In addition, the Management Board is acting as a clearing house for Brexit and maintains oversight on an ongoing basis.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government has adopted a contingency framework to deal with all issues arising in respect of the UK vote to leave the EU. Accordingly, any issues arising, including those within the Defence area, whether bilateral, or in respect of developments in CSDP, or regarding our wider international multilateral defence engagements, will be also addressed within that framework. Following on from publication of the document setting out the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations, work is underway across departments to prepare adaptive Sectorial Brexit Response Plans to mitigate emerging sectorial challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders, and will encompass the following themes:
- Sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- Policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- Prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- Realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;
- Making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Having regard to the bi-lateral arrangements already in place, and the fact Brexit does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement in the EUs Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), it is not considered that a specific sectorial response plan in the Defence sphere is necessary at this time. Such a requirement will be kept under constant review and all potential consequences in the defence sphere, arising during these negotiations, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration by my Department throughout this process. The Government is under no illusions about the complexity of these negotiations. In that regard, I wish to reassure the Deputy that my Department is monitoring the ongoing situation to ensure that the Department and the Defence Forces are well prepared to address any potential issues arising in the defence area on foot of Brexit.
