Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have moved a wonderful distance in this country. I do not mean that sarcastically. It is particularly interesting and important that Sinn Féin are concerned about the future of the Defence Forces and its operational capacity. For a long time Sinn Féin Party members did not recognise - at least their predecessors did not - the Defence Forces and often saw some of them as targets. It is refreshing to hear Deputy Mac Lochlainn's concerns.

We are involved in a reorganisation which has resulted in some barrack closures. People are uncomfortable with change. We cannot continue to operate the Defence Forces in the year 2012 on the basis on which they operated in the 1980s or early 1990s. Change is inconvenient. It does affect people. However, membership of the Defence Forces involves change. Very often a promotion involves relocation to a new barracks. People in the Defence Forces have opportunities to develop a range of skills. There is an understandable resistance to change but this change that is being effected is one that members of the Defence Forces should celebrate as it provides new opportunities and ensures we can maintain strength at 9,500, thus not degrading the Defence Forces through reduced numbers. There would be no benefit in keeping barracks open with inadequate numbers. This is about learning the lessons of how Defence Forces can best operate.

As regards personnel and how they will be affected by the reorganisation, individual preferences to serve in particular geographical locations will be considered in the context of maintaining Defence Force capability. In so far as practicable every serving member whose unit is being moved will have the opportunity to move with his or her unit or to take up a new appointment within or close to his or her existing location. Every effort will be made to accommodate members of the Defence Forces. Inevitably, some personnel will have to change location in order to fill appointments in the new organisation. However, every effort is being made to minimise the impact of this. Decisions in respect of all affected locations and units are currently being worked out. The reorganisation is being dealt with in the context of consultations with the representative bodies.

When it comes to identifying whether a particular unit with particular skills should be located in Cork, Athlone or Dublin, I must rely on the operational judgments and expertise of the Chief of Staff and those working under him.

I am not, as Minister, going to take it on my shoulders to assume I have the military expertise to know where to properly locate individuals. Prior to our announcing the location of the headquarters of the two brigades a substantial campaign to maintain brigade leadership in Athlone was conducted. Certain guarantees were given that the numbers in the barracks in Athlone would be approximately 1,000. I understand it will work out at between 970 and 980 in practical terms, as there is always some movement. This results in Athlone barracks having a larger number of members of the Defence Forces located there than when I took up this position. When Deputy O'Dea was Minister the maximum number of members of the Defence Forces in Athlone was 900. I will not second-guess operational decisions either with the Chief of Staff in the Army or the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. It is for the Chief of Staff to determine how best to implement the re-organisation and to decide where particular skills or capabilities should be.

When I say there is opportunity in all of this for members of the Defence Forces, those who want to acquire different skills will have an opportunity, where appropriate, to change units. Certainly some members will be asked to move to a different location in the context of the re-arrangement being made, but this is not a new thing in the Defence Forces. When one joins the Defence Forces one does not join on the basis of being positioned in a particular barracks for 21 years. This is not the way it works in practice, it is not the way it could work in practice and is not the way it works in practice with any army, navy, air force or defence force anywhere else in the world.

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