Dáil debates

Thursday, 21 October 2010

Priority Questions

Defence Forces Strength

3:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of the Employment Control Framework within the Defence Forces; the expected timetable for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38257/10]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force. Government approval was secured in the context of budget 2010 for a level of 10,000 all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.

I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30 September 2010 was 9,625 comprising 7,845 Army, 776 Air Corps and 1,004 Naval Service personnel.

While agreement had been reached with the Department of Finance on the Employment Control Framework for the Defence Forces the official confirmation and details of it were only received on Monday last, 18 October 2010. The ECF is based on a figure of 10,000 all ranks Permanent Defence Force personnel, appropriately configured across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps to enable them meet the roles assigned by Government.

Officials from the Department together with the military authorities are in the process of reviewing the structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force in accordance with the upper limits in ranks provided for in the ECF. Thereafter a detailed proposal will be submitted to me.

Detailed proposals on foot of the review of the structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force, within the reduced numbers, will include a phased plan for promotions. This will seek to address the priority posts to be filled in relation to the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force.

Overall numbers in the Permanent Defence Force, including numbers serving at various ranks will be subject to ongoing control and monitoring by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis. This is to ensure compliance within the overall parameters and controls set by Government for each sector. The ECF also sets out that it will be necessary to underpin the reorganisation with the required amendments to regulations and administrative instructions.

While these are challenging times, my priority is to ensure that the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed in a manner which will ensure that they can continue to deliver the services required of them by Government.

I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister agree that the employment control framework is important for the Defence Forces both from the point of view of morale and operations? How many promotions are currently on hold in the Defence Forces? Can the Minister give a breakdown of those and if he does not have information to hand, perhaps he will provide it later. Will he agree that the Defence Forces have already taken major cuts? For instance, the Reserve Defence Force has been virtually wiped out at this stage. It has taken a long time for employment control framework to be agreed and the Minister might tell why it has taken so long to get it to this stage? How long more will it be before he will be in a position to make decisions with regard to the promotions he mentioned? Will it be one month, two months, six months or whatever? What is his estimate?

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have no control over the review but Deputy Stanton is correct about the issue of morale. The employment control framework, ECF, plays a significant role in this and should be dealt with as quickly as possible. I expect the review's requirements to be undertaken as quickly a possible and given full attention. Until the review is presented to me, I am not in a position to proceed, however.

At yesterday's defence committee meeting I informed Deputies there were 150 personnel in acting-up posts. It may be considerably higher with 95 officers and 95 non-commissioned officers in such posts. This structure must be examined through the review.

I hope the review will be presented to me as quickly as possible and that it can be implemented on a phased basis in a short time thereafter with the completion of the requirements under the ECF. However, the completion of the review is outside of my control.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Are the personnel in acting-up positions being paid for the extra work? Have other vacancies arisen in the Defence Forces that have not been filled by this procedure? Will the Minister publish the ECF? What does it contain? We understood the ECF would provide the template. Now it seems it has to be reviewed too. In short, it will be a review of a review.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of those in acting-up positions are paid. The review will identify the structures and posts needed to meet the operational requirements of the Defence Forces. Given the overall reduction of numbers in the Permanent Defence Force, some reduction in the number of officer and NCO posts is inevitable.

I appreciate it can be frustrating for the Deputies opposite but it is difficult for me to give detailed information in advance of the completion of the review. I do not anticipate publishing the ECF or the review. On the other hand, I would be very surprised if I did not read it somewhere. Professionalism has to be brought to bear in this review. I see no reason for the review to be protracted. I do not want to put a time limit on it because that may put unfair pressure on those involved.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It might be no harm.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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That may be the case.

The Deputy is correct the bulk of the work has been done with the ECF and it reflects the downsizing of numbers and the modernisation process. As soon as the review is completed and approved by me, people will be brought into most of the positions in question.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister should put down a specific date for the review to be completed. That would put pressure on for it to be finished promptly.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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That is one tactic I have learned in this post.