Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While the Defence Forces is not the primary response agency for non-security-related emergencies, as defined in the framework for major emergency management, it provides the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its aid to civil authority role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is made available for deployments, within current means and capabilities, as the need arises.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a joint task force was established to co-ordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-government Covid-19 response. It has the authority to draw together, in a joint manner, the contribution of all of the elements of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve. This was provided for in a Defence Forces regulation signed by and under my authority as Minister for Defence.

The priority of the Defence Forces joint task force from the beginning has been to provide support to the HSE, while retaining at all times a contingent capacity to provide aid to the civil power support. Since March 2020, Defence Forces personnel have provided significant supports in response to the Covid-19 crisis, with in excess of 112,000 personnel days assistance being deployed and more than 22,700 instances of Defence Forces vehicles being utilised, in the deployment of an extensive range of supports from the Defence Forces.

The broad range of supports that the Defence Forces have provided to the HSE, as co-ordinated by the joint task force during the Covid-19 pandemic, include the operation of the Covid-19 testing centre at the Aviva Stadium, contact tracing supports and a range of non-clinical and administrative supports in a number of residential care facilities. Defence Forces personnel have also provided assistance to the National Ambulance Service through ambulance and crew supports along with tele-triage supports. The Defence Forces will continue to provide surge support to the health services through bolstering their capacity and providing them with the additional resilience needed to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The short answer to Deputy Healy-Rae's question is "Yes", but that is already happening. The Defence Forces have helped the HSE in multiple areas, giving thousands of person hours to support a wide range of healthcare activities.

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