Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, the aid to the civil power. It is my understanding that there was to be an immediate focus on getting rid of the aid to the civil power taskings that are no longer a requirement given the security situation in the country. However, it appears that not one of those taskings has been stood down. If we are committing troops to things that are no longer necessary and if they are doing something they see as wasteful, it is a further disincentive to people to remain in the Defence Forces.

The commission recommended a whole-of government air and maritime services needs analysis to take place in the short term. This was specifically recommended to avoid unnecessary duplication and capability development across different Departments and agencies and to ensure greater coherence across Government and delivery of greater value to the taxpayer. Given we have just been told today that the preferred bidder for the next search and rescue contract has been accepted, and I congratulate those involved and tell them I will be watching them like a hawk, there was, apparently, no cross-departmental thinking on this that I can say I am satisfied was at a proper level. The same applies to our Naval Service. We have Revenue Commissioners personnel and we have Naval Service personnel all going to sea. There is huge concern among sailors I have spoken to about the two new ships that were bought. They have told me that they are not suitable for the tasking for which they are intended. I am no expert in maritime issues but I would be somewhat concerned about the purchasing process. Was a full appraisal done? Were people from the navy involved in the purchase of the ships? Did they recommend the purchase? We could go to the bother of getting the information under FOI but they are questions that needs to be answered.

Regarding serving members, tomorrow we commemorate the shooting of Private Billy Kedian in the Lebanon and some people who served with him are still serving today. Some of them are suffering from PTSD and, from what I understand, there is no real care being provided in this area. This is something that has happened in most armies around the world. It has taken them time to come to terms with the issue.

Regarding the pensionability of the military service allowance, MSA, are the witnesses aware that when it was brought in, it excluded a whole raft of people who had been paid the military service allowance while serving but it was not made pensionable for them? To me, this is a disgrace. The people, mainly men, served this State and were in full receipt of the military service allowance, but because of a date on a calendar, they were excluded from the pensionability of it.

I did not want to bring up this last issue, which the independent review which Ms Sinnamon adverted to in her report. It is extremely distressing to members and former members, like myself, of the Defence Forces, that the report has been taken as fact when all it is is an exploration of what happened. Would Ms Sinnamon accept that until such a time that there is a sworn inquiry and evidence taken under the normal rules of evidence, we should not be playing up the independent review group report and that we should accept is as something that needs further investigation?