Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To back up Deputy Stanton, in relation to aptitude tests, I also take Ms Sinnamon's point. I totally agree that aptitude tests are needed for pilots and air traffic controllers. Aptitude tests were initially introduced for the Defence Forces because there were thousands of applicants. They could not all be interviewed. It was a blunt instrument to cut the numbers down radically. That is no longer a problem. I do not see why there is a general aptitude test. I did not have to take an aptitude test to join. Perhaps that is a good thing or perhaps it is a bad thing. I do not know. I will let Ms Sinnamon be the judge of that.

To back up what Senator Craughwell said, imagine joining a GAA team in a Border county and being told there is no problem but that you need a blood test in about six months and you might play your first match in about three years. Nobody is going to join that team. That is precisely what the Reserve Defence Force is insisting on. There is a fitness test for which there are no testers and a medical test but for which there are no doctors available. Even if someone wanted to join, the barriers are so complex and the resources so lacking that people cannot even get in. It is insane.

The best point of the day was made by Senator Craughwell. He spoke about unnecessary tasks. There are about 70 soldiers deployed right now doing tasks that do not need to be done. There are two takeaways from this. The committee has discussed the National Cyber Security Centre previously. It was stated that if we get the budget, pay rates and purpose right, people will join and stay. Imagine telling 70 people they will do a job that does not need to be done for the next 24 hours and will have to keep repeating it. That is insane. No other employer would task 70 full-time staff to do unnecessary jobs.

What is more concerning, as Senator Craughwell said, is that not only can we not wind things up and bring things to fruition, we cannot even wind things down. Fifteen months ago, the commission advised that people should stop doing this unnecessary work. It is still being don, however. My biggest concern is that the Chief of Staff would agree with the commission, as would his predecessor, but he does not have the agency or authority to wind down these unnecessary tasks. One of them relates to a bank, the second to an explosives factory and the third to a prison. They do not need to be done. The Garda Commissioner is not deploying 70 gardaí every day to do unnecessary tasks. Why does the Chief of Staff not have the authority to wind things down? If he requests or recommends something, why is it not acted upon? Why have the military chiefs been ignored for the past few decades?

My next point will back up the point made by the Cathaoirleach. Do we have to wait for the primary legislation that may be introduced sometime in the next 12 months? The Minister has authority to appoint an acting Army commander, an acting Air Corps commander and an acting Naval Service commander, along with the appropriate enlisted senior leaders. Should he not do this from a Defence Forces regulation point of view, with a view to regularising it in a couple of years' time when the primary legislation comes through?

My next point is probably the most important. We are very glad Ms Sinnamon and her team are here, but I wish her job was not needed. The Commission on the Defence Forces was utterly unnecessary. These oversight groups are necessary now but they should not be. What is needed is political governance. All of the issues that have been raised are day-to-day governance issues. From every Department we hear of Ministers bringing proposals to Cabinet and those proposals being approved and implemented. Happy days. There is no need for these elaborate commissions. My view is that the military chiefs should be empowered to do their job. We should have a dedicated stand-alone Minister for Defence, which we do not. With respect, the Tánaiste and his predecessor are competent individuals but if they are spending only a couple of days a month doing a job they cannot be expected to get around to doing everything. I do not envy their schedule and that is for sure.

We also have in law a Minister of State at the Department of Defence. One has been appointed but no powers whatsoever have been delegated. I know this is beyond Ms Sinnamon's remit, but it is a general point. There is a reason we should have Minister for State at the Department of Defence. There is a reason such a person should be appointed. It is because we need a senior politician in Newbridge every day, be it a Minister or Minister of State, lifting up the bonnet and preventing these issues happening in the first place and then driving change. We seem to have replaced ministerial oversight with ad hoccommittees that are now implementing measures in lieu of Ministers. There is no substitute for ministerial direction. This is just a general point.

I agree with Deputy Stanton and I certainly agree with Senator Craughwell. I take the points made by the Deputies from the Border region on access to the Reserve Defence Force. It is a pity the Commission on the Defence Forces was even necessary. All people had to do was listen to the military chiefs and implement what they have been requesting for the past two decades.