Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of civil servants from his Department serving abroad and their grades and ranks; the appointments they hold; if it is intended to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3602/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has nine civil servants serving with a number of different missions abroad as follows: one principal officer based in Brussels whose responsibilities span the delegation of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee and the liaison office of Ireland for Partnership for Peace, who also acts as a representative to European Defence Agency; an assistant principal officer who works full time as part of the delegation of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee; an assistant principal officer whose responsibilities span the liaison office of Ireland for Partnership for Peace and the European Defence Agency; an assistant principal officer who is a seconded national expert to the European Council, Athena Financing Mechanism; one higher executive officer who serves in the liaison office of Ireland for Partnership for Peace; one administrative officer is attached to EULEX Kosovo mission in the role of administrative reporting officer; one executive officer in the delegation of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee; one clerical officer in the liaison office of Ireland for Partnership for Peace; and one senior first secretary who is on temporary secondment from the Department Foreign Affairs as political adviser to the Chad operation commander of the force, General Nash based in Paris.

It is not my intention to increase the number at the present time.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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How many military personnel from the Permanent Defence Force are serving abroad?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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From the Permanent Defence Force——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is beyond the scope of the question.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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At the moment it is in excess of 500.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I am referring to those serving in Brussels and Mons.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I will get that information. The number is small. It is in single figures.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Is it intended to reduce the military personnel serving in both Brussels and Mons and increase the number of civil servants?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There is no immediately plan to do so. However, I will get the number of military personnel, which is very small.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We have time for one brief supplementary question. There is no point in going on to another question in the remaining 90 seconds.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The point I am making is that it is very important that military personnel should be aware of what is happening in Brussels and Mons to influence policy and decision making in the Army. It should not be left up to civil servants to serve in Brussels and Mons. Military personnel should be kept involved at all times and there should be no major reduction in the numbers there.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that.