Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to hear Deputies' views on the recently published report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Since my appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Defence, I have had the opportunity to see the work that is undertaken by the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and Civil Defence throughout the country and would like to put on record my appreciation of their service. We have seen during the Covid crisis the support the Defence Forces have provided to the State from working at vaccination centres to flying samples to Germany for testing.

This report provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to review and refocus defence provision in Ireland. The establishment of the Commission on the Defence Forces was a key defence aspect of the Programme for Government and of the Government's commitment to the Defence Forces. The commission was given wide-ranging terms of reference and the length of the report, which runs to over 200 pages, reflects the breadth of subjects covered. The report covers the main topics of capabilities, structures, staffing, the Reserve and funding. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has outlined the main recommendations under these headings but I will touch on a number of its recommendations and issues.

The report is very ambitious about the level of defence provision the commission believes Ireland requires. These recommendations would require significant increases in expenditure against competing demands on public funds. To bring these increases about will require a wide debate about the level of defence provision the public desire, as well as choices around public expenditure. As the Minister said, it is important that we get consensus on this. The equipment and personnel increases outlined would enhance our current capabilities. Any increase in capabilities will require long lead-in times and decisions around where to prioritise. These decisions on personnel and equipment will fall out of larger strategic decisions on defence provision, what our overarching defence policy will be and how that will inform what capabilities are required, along with the correct structures and staffing.

The report recommends major changes as to how the Defence Forces are currently structured both at high level and in relation to a proposed restructuring of the Army. It notes that the current structure is out of step with international comparators, particularly in relation to the cohesion between the three services. The report provides an opportunity to take a fresh look at how our Defence Forces are structured and to make the changes required to provide for an agile and adaptive structure to provide for the most efficient and effective Defence Forces both now and into the future.

Any changes to structures will require deep analysis, given the importance of civil control of the military and what changes would mean for governance and accountability. These are areas that will require consultation and consideration before decisions can be made. The recommendations on staffing are wide-ranging. Given the volume and range of issues, the report has four separate sections on staffing issues. The women and men who serve in the Defence Forces are the heart of the Defence Forces. The commission's proposals seek to make the Defence Forces an employer of choice. Its recommendations cover areas such as strategic HR, career progression and promotion and training systems for those currently serving, to address issues raised during the commission’s consultation with Defence Force members. The commission also makes recommendations on culture, morale, gender and diversity. It particularly recommends a fundamental cultural change process. There have been disturbing reports in the media recently on the culture in the Defence Forces. The recommendations in this section of the report seek to address these and other issues. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has already started to address this by establishing the independent review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces to ensure that they are a safe workplace for all serving members, while also reviewing historical allegations. Addressing these cultural issues is a key aspect of modernising the Defence Forces and a key element of this report.

Other elements dealing with the people in the Defence Forces cover important issues of modernising working practices such as family-friendly working and the working time directive. Again, these recommendations seek to make the Defence Forces a more attractive workplace.

Pay structures are addressed with recommendations on how the total remuneration package is presented and how the wider benefits of a career in the Defence Forces should be highlighted. While the Government is aware of recruitment and retention issues, it is important to highlight the benefits of joining the Defence Forces and the wider social benefit of the training provided to individuals in their time in the Defence Forces.

The commission was specifically tasked with reviewing the Reserve Defence Force. The report contains some sharp criticism of the current strength levels and how the Reserve is currently utilised. The recommendations call for a regeneration plan to revitalise the Reserve. The report argues that this is possible with the establishment of an office of Reserve affairs and commitment at all levels. The commission calls for the development of revamped and more efficient recruitment processes to address the issue of the long lag time between people applying to join the Reserve and then joining. This presents an opportunity to revitalise the Reserve and increase its utility to the Permanent Defence Force.

The commission also addressed defence funding. It collected the comparative data from a number of western and northern European countries of comparable size. The data clearly highlight the difference in defence spending between Ireland and these comparable countries. These countries all have their own unique circumstances informing their position on defence provision, born out of their own security environment, historical perspective and funding available. Any move to comparable defence spending would require a sea change in our thinking on defence provision in Ireland.

Overall, the report presents a challenging and wide-ranging review of current defence provision and where it should move to up to 2040. As the Minister has stated, it is hoped this report will spark a wider conversation about defence provision in Ireland and what the Irish public considers a required level of ambition should be. The security environment is assessed as being unpredictable and ever-changing and there is a requirement for Defence Forces that are agile to address this.

Given the wide ranging and significant recommendations in the report, wide consultation will be required both across the Government and with relevant stakeholders. I look forward to the input of Deputies today in what is a vital topic for Government and the people of Ireland.

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