Written Answers Nos. 311-331
313. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any contact with his Spanish, Moroccan or European Union counterparts in relation to the death of migrants in Melilla; if he will support an independent investigation into the deaths; if he has concerns about human rights abuses on both sides of the Spanish-Moroccan border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply disturbed by the violence in Melilla on 24 June 2022. I am also shocked at the tragic deaths of at least 23 migrants and injury to many other migrants, as well as to Moroccan and Spanish personnel. My thoughts and sympathies go to all those who lost loved ones and to those who sustained injuries.
I welcome that the Spanish authorities have quickly announced an investigation into this incident. It is important that the facts of this tragedy be clearly set out in order to avoid the re-occurrence of such episodes in future.
The safety of migrants and refugees, refraining from the excessive use of force and upholding their human rights in accordance with international law, including international human rights law and international refugee law, as applicable, must remain a priority for the international community. I would take this opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s commitment to the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees. Ireland emphasised this commitment last week when this incident was discussed at a meeting of the UN Security Council. At that meeting, we also welcomed the announcement that an investigation would take place and underlined the importance of the protection of migrants’ human rights.
314. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to review a passport application for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36153/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.
317. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken formally with the Australian Foreign Minister in the past three months. [36159/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has excellent bilateral relations with Australia, anchored in shared values and close people to people links. I met with Australia’s then Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, last February in the margins of an international conference in Munich. This was our first opportunity to meet in person since the onset of the pandemic. We discussed a range of topics, including bilateral matters.
As you will be aware, Australia’s Federal Elections took place in May, resulting in the appointment of a new government led by Prime Minister Albanese. Penny Wong has now been appointed as Australia’s Foreign Minister. I have written to Minister Wong congratulating her on her appointment and setting out my hope that we might meet in the coming period.
322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the engagement that he has had with the Department of Defence on the shortage of qualified engine room artificers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35997/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Defence, I am in daily contact with my officials as part of the on-going business of the Department including the recruitment and retention challenges in the Naval Service.
In response to such challenges I approved a comprehensive Naval Service regeneration plan in 2021 which is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil/military team. The aim of the plan is to address the issues facing the Naval Service in the context of human resources, operational capacity, and infrastructure. A number of the staffing measures in the plan have been implemented.
Additionally, general service and direct entry recruitment is ongoing. 12 direct entry engine room artificer (ERA) applications have been received to date in 2022 and 5 ERA’s have been inducted by direct entry over the past 3 years. Direct entry terms and conditions continue to be revised to improve intakes.
Specialists, such as ERA can prove difficult to retain as there are competing demands for such specialists in other sectors. In relation to retention measures to counter this, pay has improved as a result of increases arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report and from recent pay agreements. The Naval Service commitment scheme and a tax credit for sea going Naval Service personnel are further examples of targeted measures I introduced.
The PSPC report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces made a range of recommendations with a view to addressing recruitment and retention issues and these have been progressed.
Furthermore, consideration of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is ongoing. I intend to revert shortly to Government with a proposed response to those recommendations and a high-level action plan, which will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.
323. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Defence if the cost of training the Defence Forces to help with security at Dublin Airport and putting them on standby for same will be reimbursed to the Exchequer. [36130/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Defence the cost to the Exchequer of training the Defence Forces to help with security at Dublin Airport and putting them on standby for same; and if that cost will be reimbursed to his Department by the Dublin Airport Authority. [36129/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 331 together.
At last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Government supported a request from the Minister for Transport for members of the Defence Forces to undergo training and certification and to be on standby to assist the daa with the provision of aviation security duties at Dublin Airport.
While I recognise that the role of the Defence Forces is not normally to assist in the provision of services for a commercial airport, I agreed to this request on a clear assurance that this is a distinct piece of work, provided in extreme circumstances, as a short-term emergency related contingency action and is in direct response to a letter from daa management to the Minister for Transport. The request is clearly defined in terms of the role and timeline, lasting no more than 6 weeks, in non-public facing duties.
Members of our Defence Forces are undergoing an immediate period of training and will stand ready to assist if the need arises. The Defence Forces will only be deployed if assistance is requested by the daa and in a scenario where there is a significant deterioration in passenger queuing times with a risk of large numbers of passengers missing their flights. The support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed. The daa have given assurances that they will continue with their own recruitment and onboarding of additional security staff and the introduction of other mitigations during this period.
The full details of this support are currently being worked out between the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the daa. This includes the modalities for the reimbursement to the Exchequer of all costs by the daa. The support is being provided on the agreement that the daa will pay the full costs of the service provision, including salary costs, allowances, training, certification and management costs and the cost of having the Defence Forces personnel on standby.
324. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.
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. The chairman and the non military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
The current Chairperson of the Army Pensions Board is a former civil servant.
325. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the amount of money that has been paid for Ireland’s participation in NATO’s operational capability concept on an annual basis since Ireland joined Partnership for Peace (details supplied). [35253/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOperational Capability Concept (OCC) is an evaluation and feedback process that provides for external evaluation by trained evaluators of declared military capabilities in accordance with NATO standards. The White Paper on Defence 2015 refers to utilising NATO as the standard and benchmark for the Defence Forces, it being the ‘ISO of the military world’. The Defence Forces involvement with OCC is a reflection of how they strive to reach that standard and benchmark.
The Defence Forces joined the OCC Programme in 2016. It is an aspect of Ireland’s participation in Partnership for Peace, which is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for multinational crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN.
There is no membership fee associated with OCC. Since joining OCC, a total of 49 Defence Forces' personnel have attended OCC courses and events and a number have qualified as OCC evaluators. Costs relating to attendance at training and other activities both home and overseas, such as travel and subsistence, are met from within the existing travel and training budget of the Defence Forces.
326. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Defence the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35428/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in line with other Government Departments, operates a Refund/Advance of Fees Scheme. This is in line with Department of Finance Circular 23/2007, which guides how Refund of Fees Schemes are operated across the Civil Service.
The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members and its secretary is provided from my Department’s staff.
My Department does not currently fund full-time PhD positions for any of its staff.
327. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 28 June 2022, the number of permanent Defence Forces personnel who left the Defence Forces in 2022 up to 31 May; the reasons for leaving, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35555/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 31 May 2022, 313 personnel were discharged from the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) comprised of 21 officers and 292 enlisted personnel.
The military authorities have provided the following tables which detail the reasons for discharge and the numbers discharged as at 31st May 2022.
Officers
|
Reason |
Total Discharged |
|
Voluntary Retirement |
16 |
|
Retirement on Age Grounds |
3 |
|
Below Defence Forces Medical Standards |
1 |
|
Retired on Expiration of Short Service Commission |
1 |
|
Total |
21 |
Enlisted Personnel
|
Reason |
Total Discharged |
|
At his/her own request after 12 years’ service |
9 |
|
At his/her own request |
8 |
|
Below Defence Forces Medical Standards |
11 |
|
Death |
4 |
|
Determination of Service by the Minister for Defence |
5 |
|
Discharge by purchase |
116 |
|
Expiry of Permanent Defence Force service |
1 |
|
His/her services being no longer required |
2 |
|
On pension after 21 years’ service |
83 |
|
On termination of engagement |
53 |
|
TOTAL |
292 |
As can be seen above, there are a range of reasons why personnel discharge from the Defence Forces. More than 50% who leave the Defence Force do so with some form of pension. This can make taking up a position in the private sector very attractive where a full-time position, even at the same rates as those in the Defence Forces, could lead to an increase in an individual’s earnings.
Additionally, recruits can also elect to discharge by purchase while still undergoing training and the average turnover rate for such recruits has been around 30% over the last number of years. The realities of military life and the training requirements are not always suitable for some recruits or in line with their expectations of the role. In any position where there is a training period prior to appointment there will always be fall off at different stages of the process.
While the Commission on the Defence Forces stated in their report that they were satisfied, in broad terms, that the levels of average turnover are not out of line with other military organisations internationally, its work included wider deliberation on the appropriate capabilities and staffing of the Permanent Defence Force. Consideration of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is ongoing. I intend to revert shortly to Government with a proposed response to those recommendations and a high-level action plan, which will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.
328. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35847/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.
The pay rise referenced by the Deputy is not applicable to the members of the Board.
330. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if any of the soldiers at Portlaoise prison who opened fire on 18 May 1988 were awarded a medal or subjected to disciplinary procedures. [36044/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Military Authorities have confirmed to me that there were no medals awarded, or disciplinary procedures actioned, by the Defence Forces as a result of shots being fired in relation to an incident at Portlaoise prison on 18 May 1988.
