Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

In response to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Accounting Officer of my Department stated it was the Department's view that the conditions that led to the introduction of Border duty allowance, BDA, no longer exist, and I agree with that assessment. The Defence Forces have played a key role in the Border area in aid to the civil power. The overall nature of the Defence Forces activities in the Border area has changed as the political and security situation has evolved. For example, static checkpoints and border patrolling involving the Defence Forces has ceased. The recent announcement in the budget of the closure of the four barracks in the Border area reflects these changed circumstances.

While Border activities such as patrols and checkpoints are no longer necessary, activity by personnel stationed in Border area has not ceased. The Border units are obliged to maintain their capacity to respond to the impact of emergencies and contingencies on the border, normally through the provision of assistance to the civil authorities. Operations in response to the foot and mouth disease outbreak, BSE and the threat of bird flu are examples. Border units are, therefore, required to maintain mobile support units in barracks on a 24-hour basis. A separate security duty allowance is payable to Defence Forces personnel generally when engaged in specified security duties. Personnel in receipt of BDA cannot claim security duty allowance for such duties, which are performed on an ongoing basis. The removal of the BDA would be partly offset by the payment of security duty allowance in these cases.

The Comptroller and Auditor General noted that the changed circumstances relating to BDA was addressed through its inclusion in the Defence Forces modernisation agenda agreed with the representative associations in June 2007 under Towards 2016. The modernisation agenda encompasses a broad range of issues to further improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Defence Forces. As the BDA involves the pay and conditions of service of members of the Permanent Defence Forces, it must be addressed through the Comptroller and Auditor General scheme with the representative associations and this process is under way. It is intended that implementation of changes agreed through the review will begin during the lifetime of the Towards 2016 agreement. The Deputy will appreciate that, as discussions between the Department and the representative associations are confidential to the parties involved, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.

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