Written Answers Nos. 183-200
183. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that all necessary precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of Irish troops based in Lebanon; and if there is a process in place to keep their families briefed, in view of the volatile situation currently in Lebanon and the wider region. [47368/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Forces have almost 500 personnel serving between the three UN missions in the region – United Nations Interim Force Lebanon, UNIFIL (319), United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF (136) and United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation UNTSO (13).
The safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to the Government. I am in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff and the Department of Defence and being kept apprised daily of all developments in areas where our Defence Forces’ personnel are deployed.
Defence Forces' personnel are well trained prior to deployment to mitigate against risks and scenarios that may arise in deployments overseas, including the circumstances in which they find themselves currently. All Defence Forces’ personnel are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission areas. They are complying with UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions (Groundhog), as appropriate.
I am advised by military management that arrangements are in place to ensure that the families of Defence Forces personnel are kept informed of developments. To this end, relevant updates are passed through Unit liaison officers at home with a view to keeping families and loved ones informed. Family members can also contact their liaison officers if they have any specific queries, which will be addressed subject to operational security considerations.
184. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in the provision of the Defence Forces pensions and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47478/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe target for payment of pension is normally the next available payroll conditional on receipt of all necessary supporting documentation and resolution of any queries arising therefrom. Military pensions are paid monthly and any amendments to the payroll must adhere to strict payroll monthly closedown deadlines. If these monthly deadlines are not met, the pension cannot commence until the following month. Payment of gratuities would normally be 2 weeks following receipt of all necessary paperwork and resolution of queries.
The process of putting pensions into payment is currently taking 5 to 6 weeks, subsequent to receipt of the required paperwork and resolution of any queries arising therefrom. In all cases where a gratuity is eligible to be paid, and once the required paperwork has been received, every effort is made to ensure that payment is made as quickly as possible but currently this can take 3 to 4 weeks.
The calculation of military service pensions and gratuities is a complex and largely manual process. It involves collation and scrutiny of information received from the Payroll area and from the Defence Forces, as well the required documentation received from the individual retirees, and the resolution of any queries which may arise therefrom.
There have been a significantly higher than normal number of new service pension and gratuity cases coming on stream in recent months. Unfortunately this coincided with a period of unavoidably high staff turnover.
Staff have been redeployed from another section and have been trained up in this complex area of work and will stay in place until the present high number of cases on hand returns to normal levels.
The Department is very mindful of the need to issue pension and gratuity payments in a timely manner and I can assure you that every effort is made to expedite payments once all required paperwork is received. The measures put in place are addressing the situation.
185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of statements of interests for the purposes of section 19 filed by his special advisers in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will provide a schedule of same. [47642/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatements of Interests for the purpose of Section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, were filed by two Special Advisers at the end of their employment in June 2020.
Since that date no special advisers have been employed by the Department of Defence.
186. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47727/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out the advertising spend for my Department and agencies under its remit, for each of the years 2020 to 2022 in this regard.
Subhead A22.2 of the Defence Vote covers expenditure on Advertisements for both the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence.
The Department is not in a position to provide a further breakdown as many contracts are with agencies and information regarding breakdown of such spend is not held by the Department.
|
DEFENCE – ADVERTISING 2020-2022 - Subhead A22.2 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Total Spend € |
653,658 |
867,399 |
1,006,971 |
187. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department’s targets for the issuing of forestry licences in 2023 and 2024; the number issued to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47793/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the Department has not issued any forestry licences in 2023, and has no plans to issue any licences in 2024 as the majority of land holdings are active military ranges.
188. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the reason the Defence Forces will no longer train officer cadets from Malta at the Defence Forces Cadet School in the Military College in the Curragh, County Kildare; the number of requests received to facilitate the training of Maltese cadets since 2009, by year; the number refused, in tabular form; if this is intended to be a temporary or permanent cessation; if temporary when the cadet school is expected to be in a position to facilitate such again; when any changes to existing policy were communicated to the Armed Forces of Malta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47798/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been an ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship between the Irish Defence Forces and Armed Forces of Malta since 2009, which has seen Maltese personnel train alongside Irish Cadets. There is currently one Maltese cadet in training in the Cadet School with the 99th cadet class, which is due to be commissioned in Q1 2024.
While the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) did request a place in the most recent intake (the 100th class), the Defence Forces advised that they were unable to facilitate that request on this occasion. As part of the Defence Forces’ consolidation of operations and training, a review of training procedures highlighted the need to consolidate training resources at the Cadet School and, as a result, the DF were unable to provide a place to AFM this year.
Notwithstanding this decision, which relates only to the Cadet School, the ongoing mutually beneficial relationship that has existed between the Defence Forces and the Armed Forces of Malta since 2009 is acknowledged. Indeed, reflecting that relationship, the Defence Forces have offered places to the AFM on less resource-heavy courses, such as the Land Component Staff Course, the Joint Command & Staff Course and Non-Commissioned Officer courses. This would allow the cooperative arrangement to continue, while focusing on other areas of professional military development that could be beneficial to Maltese military personnel.
In addition, Ireland’s long and proud tradition of international peacekeeping continues to be enhanced by way of cooperation with AFM in UNIFIL, where Maltese personnel have formed part of IRISHPOLBATT since 2018. That close relationship is reflected in the deployment to UNIFIL this month of nine Maltese members with the 123rd Infantry Battalion.
A Memorandum of Understanding covers this bilateral arrangement to embed personnel from Armed Forces Malta with the Irish battalion in UNIFIL.
In February of this year, my Department wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Security, Reform and Equality in Malta, notifying that, following a review of training procedures and a requirement to consolidate training resources at the Cadet School specifically, the Defence Forces had advised that this cooperative arrangement could, in future, focus on other professional developmental military courses that would be beneficial to Maltese military personnel.
Following receipt of the Defence Forces’ advice with regard to a place in the Cadet School, my Department wrote to the AFM essentially setting out all of the foregoing.
The table below details the number of cadet placements requested by the Armed Forces of Malta and the number facilitated by the Irish Defence Forces for the period 2009-2023.
|
- |
Places requested by Armed Forces Malta |
Number that could not be accommodated by Irish DF |
|
2009 |
7 |
4 |
|
2010 |
3 |
0 |
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
3 |
0 |
|
2013 |
4 |
0 |
|
2014 |
7 |
0 |
|
2015 |
7 |
0 |
|
2016 |
8 |
0 |
|
2017 |
9 |
0 |
|
2018 |
10 |
3 |
|
2019 |
11 |
4 |
|
2020 |
5 |
0 |
|
2021 |
2 |
0 |
|
2022 |
1 |
0 |
|
2023 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
78 |
12 |
Of the 66 who were accepted into the Cadet School, 59 successfully completed Cadet training and were commissioned as officers. One further AFM Cadet is due to be commissioned in March 2024.
189. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Government of Israel, any state body of the Government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47802/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department and the Defence Forces have had no engagement with the Government of Israel, or agencies of same, on any matters for years 2021-2023, I am advised that my Department and the Defence Forces have engaged with Israeli companies in relation to the procurement of defensive equipment, and maintenance and training on same during the years specified. In 2022, this engagement included Defence Force equipment training in Israel.
During this period, no equipment has been purchased directly from the State of Israel. However, in 2021 engineering (non-lethal) equipment was purchased from one company which is understood to be fully state owned.
The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. This is an EU law requirement and in accordance with the Defence and Security Directive. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the e-tenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), where appropriate. Such tender competitions are open to any company or country, subject to the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargos in place on Israel or Israeli companies.
In addition it should also be noted that as part of an overall deployment of the 13 Irish Defence Forces officers serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) mission, three officers are based in UNTSO Headquarters in Jerusalem with a further officer based in Tiberias, Israel.
190. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the occupied Palestinian territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47820/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that neither my Department nor the Defence Forces have had any engagement with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023.
191. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of apprentice carpenters in the Defence Forces; and the supports available to those who are required to temporarily relocate for the academic portion of said apprenticeship. [47891/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe military authorities have advised that there are no apprentice carpenters in the Defence Forces. Thirteen personnel in the Permanent Defence Force are currently registered in the carpentry stream of the Defence Force Trainee Technician Scheme. Seven personnel qualified through this scheme during 2023. The trainees undertake “on the Job” work experience and training within academic/training institutions. Trainees that attend an academic/training institution that is not within a reasonable distance of their home address, are accommodated in the nearest barracks and meals are provided there, or paid for when off base. Where military accommodation is not within a reasonable distance, hotel or bed & breakfast accommodation is organised with subsistence claims covered as part of the training.
192. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide clarity and additional information on the statement made by the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and at the Department of Education (details supplied). [47894/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key priority for me, as Minister for Defence, is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that they can carry out all of the roles assigned to them by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
Engagement in Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects is one of the ways in which we can achieve capability development. Ireland joined PESCO in 2017 and our engagement in PESCO projects is completely voluntary. We decide what projects we engage in; all current projects that we participate in align with our national capability needs, this will be the case for future projects in which Ireland will engage.
Currently Ireland is a full participant in four projects and has Observer status on a further twenty-one projects.
The four projects in which we are participating are - (1) Deployable Military Disaster Relief Capability Package (DM-DRCP); (2) Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance (UMS); (3) Maritime (semi-) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures (MAS MCM); (4) Cyber Threats and Incident Response Information Sharing Platform (CTISP).
The establishment of PESCO represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. PESCO is underpinned by cooperation; Member States come together in to develop additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations.
My Department and the Defence Forces analyse PESCO Projects on a regular basis and make recommendations to me where there is value in Ireland engaging. It is often the case that PESCO projects are large scale projects which encompass research and development, Ireland cannot achieve capabilities in these large scale areas alone. It makes complete sense to work with other Member States to develop capabilities of mutual interest.
Our participation in PESCO projects is reflective of what brings the most value to Defence Forces capabilities and I support our Defence Forces being more ambitious in this regard. As future capabilities needs are identified, PESCO projects will form the basis of evaluating how we can reach those capabilities collaboratively with other EU Member States.
193. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the independent review into allegations of abuse in the Defence Forces. [47895/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report of the Independent Review Group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the Report, which included the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and transparency.
I met with the various stakeholders to discuss the terms of reference and some made written submissions.
I and my officials consulted with the Attorney General in relation to establishing such an Inquiry and also discussed at length the various suggestions in relation to the Terms of Reference which were of course shared with the stakeholders.
On 11 July last, I obtained the approval of Government to establish a Judge-led Tribunal of Inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921 (as amended), to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces and to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.
I have now considered the various comments and observations on the Terms of Reference and have circulated them to the stakeholders .
I am now anxious to proceed to establish the Tribunal as it was first called for in September 2021 . It is my intention to revert to Government in the coming weeks to seek approval for the Terms of Reference and for the appointment of a Judge to Chair the Tribunal.
194. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48007/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not currently have any engagement with the company referred to by the Deputy.
195. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the value of all contracts for goods or services purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48042/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces for the acquisition of goods and services. This is an EU law requirement and in accordance with the Defence and Security Directive. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the e-tenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), where appropriate. Such tender competitions are open to any company or country, subject to the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargos in place on Israel or Israeli companies.
I am advised by the Defence Forces that their records indicate a value of €6,073,768 for all contracts for goods or services, purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms over the last five years.
196. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48309/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not currently hold any contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.
197. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of fish kills caused by the Irish Air Corps since 1991 in rivers near Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, County Dublin, in particular the River Camac, and the steps taken to make sure such fish kills never happen again. [48393/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that my officials are unaware of any such incidents and accordingly they have sought details, if any, from the Air Corps. As soon as the material requested is available I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy.
198. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48654/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently holds one contract with the company referred to by the Deputy in respect of ICT consultancy services. The value of the contract is €240,000 (ex VAT).
199. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48686/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not currently hold any contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.
200. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48702/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently holds one contract with the company referred to by the Deputy in respect of external ICT technical support services (Security). The value of the contract is €420,000 (ex VAT).
