Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on the important issue of defence. The motion has given the Government and the House a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the service of the Defence Forces and to reinforce the policy framework provided by the White Paper on Defence, the significant commitment of funding by this and previous Fine Gael-led Governments to the modernisation of the Defence Forces, the investment in equipment platforms and the continuous recruitment of personnel during the years of the worst recession in the history of the State and difficult economic conditions when the rest of the public sector was not recruiting.

I welcome the recognition by Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Labour Party of the dedication and commitment of the members of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, and the Reserve Defence Force, RDF. I also recognise Civil Defence volunteers. We owe a deep gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the State. I take the opportunity to recognise their patriotic service.

While it is not covered in the motion or the amendments, I acknowledge the significant contribution that the members of the Defence Forces have made, and continue to make, to peacekeeping. For close to 60 years, the Defence Forces have played a vital role as peacekeepers all over the world, including in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Defence Forces's 66,000 individual tours of duty on UN and UN-mandated support missions to date is a tangible demonstration of the country's commitment to the pursuit of international peace and security. Today, just under 600 members of the PDF are serving overseas in various parts of the world, which reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our peacekeeping responsibilities. On Thursday morning, the 54th Infantry Group will return from serving with UNDOF in the Golan Heights. I was privileged to meet its members when I visited a few weeks ago and I hope they will enjoy the break with their families and loved ones. A new contingent recently began its deployment with UNDOF. I wish its personnel every success in carrying out their duties.

The White Paper on Defence, approved by the Government in July 2015, provides the strategic and comprehensive defence policy framework for the next decade. It was developed following an extensive consultation process with all interested parties and a comprehensive examination of all defence requirements over a ten-year planning horizon. This policy framework is flexible and responsive, given the dynamic nature of the security environment, and enables the defence organisation to be adaptive to changing circumstances and to use resources as effectively as possible. The development of flexible and adaptive military capabilities is a pragmatic approach to dealing with future uncertainty and the roles assigned by the Government. Capability commitments outlined in the White Paper include maintenance of a PDF establishment of at least 9,500 personnel and the retention of the existing two-brigade Army structure and Air Corps and Naval Service structures. I have indicated to the Oireachtas committee that I will provide updates on the White Paper projects that are under way and that the representative associations will be consulted where appropriate.

I wish to state clearly that the Government is committed to supporting the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the one and only official Army of the State. They serve the country at home and abroad with great distinction. In 2011, the budgetary provisions for the Defence Forces were such that they risked reducing the numbers serving to below 8,000. That was the legacy of Fianna Fáil while in office. The then Fine Gael-led Government secured additional funding to stop that happening and to stabilise the Defence Forces at 9,500. It also took steps to ensure that recruitment continued in the Defence Forces even when there was an embargo on recruitment across the public service, something that was introduced by the Fianna Fáil-led Government. Fine Gael's record is one of standing up for the Defence Forces and the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who serve the country with loyalty and dedication.

Budget 2017 delivered an additional €16 million for defence. This provides enough resources to pay for the Defence Forces at a full strength of 9,500. It is an extra €7 million for capital spending, bringing the capital allocation up to €74 million, a 10% increase. It includes an extra €6 million for pensions. However, it is not just the men and women of the Defence Forces in whom we are investing. We are also investing in the equipment and platforms that they have available to them so that they can carry out their duties in an effective and safe manner.

The Naval Service ships replacement programme has delivered three new offshore patrol vessels, which is something that no one has mentioned yet. Last year, the Government signed a contract for a fourth new ship. When complete, the total contract value for the four ships will be close to €270 million. We are also investing in the Air Corps, with plans in place to buy new aircraft. A replacement Pilatus aircraft will be delivered this year, the process of replacing the Cessna aircraft is under way and the White Paper provides for replacing the CASA aircraft.

Earlier this year, I was delighted to award a €50 million contract for refurbishing the Army's armoured personnel carriers, something that has not been mentioned in this debate. Investment is being provided for armoured logistics and utility vehicles, which will further enhance force protection. Capital funding will lead to significant construction works across barracks, including at Baldonnel, the Curragh, Haulbowline, Kilkenny and Limerick and in Cathal Brugha and McKee barracks in Dublin.

At the end of February, the effective strength of the PDF stood at 9,070. The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of the PDF at 9,500 personnel and recognises that a key challenge for the Defence Forces is to return to and maintain this strength. That is why we are recruiting at historically high levels. This year, the Defence Forces are planning for the induction of approximately 900 new entrants. Both cadet and general service recruitment campaigns are currently active. The cadet campaign covers requirement for line and specialist officers, including engineers for the Army and Naval Service and pilots for the Air Corps. Last year, 590 general service recruits were inducted across the Defence Forces, with 100 cadets between all services. That is the largest cadet class in decades.

Some Deputies wish to portray the Government as not taking steps to reach the establishment strength, but that is not the case. Despite what some say, more people entered the Defence Forces in 2016 than left it. As with other areas of the public service, challenges have arisen in terms of the recruitment and retention of personnel with scarce and highly marketable skills, including pilots and air traffic control staff. However, significant work is under way by civil and military elements aimed at addressing these particular challenges, including a range of actions to improve pilot retention and return to a full level of air traffic control services in the Air Corps. While there are challenges in filling these specific technical posts, the current position is that officer ranks are operating at 87% of the establishment strength. In some areas of the Defence Forces, we bring on board direct entry recruits with specialist skills. I have tasked my Department and the Chief of Staff to consider where else this may be possible, including the direct entry of those with required skills to the Air Corps, for example, pilots.

The new Public Service Pay Commission has been tasked with providing objective analysis and advice to the Government on public service remuneration, including the Defence Forces, in the context of the FEMPI Acts 2009 to 2015 and is due to report in the coming months. Once this report is available, the Government intends to initiate negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road agreement ahead of budget 2018 considerations.

I also want to recognise that the Chief of Staff has raised with me the concerns brought to him by some serving members. I have reassured him that future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will be dealt with within this process. I welcome PDFORRA’s recent decision to sign up to the Lansdowne Road agreement. This will deliver noticeable increases for its members. Regarding additional payments for Operation Pontus, I can confirm that my officials are working with PDFORRA on finalising the conclusion of the negotiated settlement. On my instructions, my officials have been in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding measures to retain specialist personnel in the Defence Forces, including highly skilled pilots. I assure the House that there is significant work under way in the defence organisation, civil and military, aimed at improving the capacity of the Air Corps.

Recruitment of new personnel is also under way. Currently, there are 27 cadets in three classes undergoing various stages of the Air Corps cadetship to become pilots. Eight were inducted in 2016. There are rolling cadet classes such that we will have additional fully trained pilots this year. The Government continued recruitment in this area during the worst recession in the history of this State. A return to previous levels of capability in the Air Corps will be a gradual process as pilots within the system progress to become aircraft commanders and newly qualified cadets become pilots. Actions are also under way to return a full level of air traffic control services to the Air Corps. Air traffic control training is taking place and options to ensure the longer-term sustainability of air traffic control, ATC, services at Baldonnel are being identified. Some personnel are nearing completion of their training and a new class has recently been inducted. The Defence Forces takes pride in being able to respond to requests for assistance but it must be borne in mind that capabilities are not specifically developed to support other agencies and for civil contingencies but, of course, their utilisation for such tasks maximises the utility of defence capabilities overall and value for money for the State.

Some aspects of the motion and the amendments thereto look to the past rather than the future. The 2012 reorganisation of the Defence Forces was designed to maximise operational capacity and to provide for an organisation that is flexible and can accommodate new or unexpected demands. The reorganisation was carried out on the advice of the then Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence.

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