Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and welcome the fact the Minister is staying for the duration. Our Defence Forces have a proud tradition, both nationally and internationally. For example, consider the work Defence Forces members from Custume Barracks in Athlone did when the Shannon flooded or of the work done internationally by serving personnel from Custume Barracks who are involved in peacekeeping in Lebanon. They have a proud tradition and it is important to acknowledge this in this debate. It is regrettable, however, that there has been such a significant reorganisation of our Defence Forces in the past years in advance of the publication of the White Paper. I speak particularly of the disestablishment of the Fourth Western Brigade.

Mention has been made here tonight of the international terrorist threat. I take this opportunity to pass on my deepest sympathies to the families who have been affected, in particular the families of Larry and Martina Hayes from Athlone and I offer my deepest sympathy to their daughter Sinead.

Our Defence Forces enhance our international reputation and reaffirm our commitment to the UN. They are of critical importance both to the State and to society.

I welcome the fact that in his contribution the Minister sought cross-party support. He said he would listen to Members of all parties, including Opposition parties, on the White Paper. I hope they are not just idle words and that he is genuinely here to listen, and that when valuable concrete proposals are put forward he will take them on board before the ultimate publication of the White Paper.

All is not perfect or well. There are issues within the Defence Forces. There is no point in saying there are not. Morale is low. Pay and conditions have been savaged in recent years. The closure of barracks has meant personnel have been required to move from one location to another. Constituents have informed me that many people, especially at lower grades in the Defence Forces, are relying on family income supplement. At the 2012 PDFORRA conference which took place in the wake of the announcement of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces we heard claims that they are not fit for purpose. We were told morale is suffering and certain elements of Government and the Civil Service are constantly trying to bring about the total destruction of the Defence Forces by stealth. That is very worrying to hear such things. I hope the Minister is addressing those concerns. By virtue of the fact that he is bringing forward a White Paper he is clearly intending to outline a strategy for the future and I hope he is taking those points on board.

What is more worrying is that we learned only this week from the front page of a national newspaper that 100 officers have resigned in the past two years. That is a serious brain drain from the Defence Forces. The Minister knows better than most that it takes four to six years to train specialist officers. We must ask why they are leaving what would be regarded as a permanent, pensionable job and moving into the private sector. They are doing so because the Government and the Department of Defence have failed to honour commitments made in relation to career progression.

Various Army barracks have closed, including Columb Barracks in Mullingar. Many Garda stations have also closed in recent years. We have taken the eyes and ears of the State off the ground. Since 2012 the Defence Forces have only two permanently occupied barracks along the complete Border with Northern Ireland, namely, Finner Camp in south Donegal and the other in Donegal town, two widely dispersed locations, which leave entire swathes of the Border without the required presence for both State security and economic oversight. With the disestablishment of the Army’s 4th Western Brigade in November 2012 the control and monitoring of the complete Border with Northern Ireland is overseen from Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines in Dublin. From a State security and economic well-being perspective, that is both reckless and unsustainable.

During the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in cattle in 2001, which was discovered in the UK and Northern Ireland, the Department of Defence and Army personnel played a pivotal role in Border control.

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