Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence when the White Paper on the Defence Forces will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54646/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper published in 2000 has provided, as the Deputy is aware, the framework within which the defence organisation has responded to the significant changes in the defence and security environment. I am of the view that the preparation for the new White Paper on defence will benefit greatly from an informed and wide-ranging debate on Ireland’s defence policy. To that end and having considered the preliminary work undertaken on the new White Paper, I decided to initiate the preparation of a Green Paper on defence. The purpose of the Green Paper will be to elicit and stimulate the policy debate and discussion.

I expect a draft Green Paper will be submitted to me for consideration shortly. I will subsequently bring a memorandum to Government, early in 2013, seeking formal approval to publish the Green Paper and to initiate the consultation process to inform the White Paper. The new White Paper on defence is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Some 12 or 13 years will have elapsed from the publication of the last White Paper on Defence to the publication of the new White Paper and yet in the past 12 months significant changes have taken place in the Defence Forces. There has been a move from a three-group to a two-group brigade structure, the abolition of the command at Custume Barracks in Athlone and a restructuring of the Reserve Defence Forces. In tandem with those changes a significantly increased threat has been posed by dissident republicans on both sides of the Border and they have been engaged in far greater activity. In that context, does the Minister believe we need to reconsider the restructuring of the Defence Forces and the objectives and goals for our security forces?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I would not give respectability to the groups the Deputy mentioned by referring to them as dissident republicans: they are primarily criminal terrorists who have no respect of any description for the democratic will of people on both sides of this island to bring an end to violence, mayhem and destruction. They are individuals who, while waving a green flag, are deeply involved in criminality in the area of drugs, fuel laundering and extortion and are hell bent on causing death and mayhem if possible. In that context, I want to pay tribute to both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for the work they do in providing a safe community on this side of the island and to the Garda Síochána and the PSNI for the full co-operation that exists between both bodies in seeking to prevent incidents and also in investigating events that occurred such as the most recent tragic death of a prison officer in Northern Ireland.

The reorganisation of the Defence Forces was designed to ensure that we have the practical necessary numbers in the Defence Forces to deal with issues that arise such as issues of subversion in so far as the Defence Forces are engaged in that area and also to facilitate their engagement in their international duties. The reorganisation was also designed to ensure that we use resources wisely. Both the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána have the capability to continue to co-operate fully and work with each other to ensure that what is necessary is done to counteract the threat of the criminal terrorists who remain on this island.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Eoghan Murphy has signalled he wishes to ask a question and following him I will call Deputy Naughten.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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In the preparation of the White Paper will the Minister consult other governments to share analysis or to learn of their thinking in terms of the preparation of white papers? Currently, the French Government is drafting a new White Paper. I had the opportunity to visit French Ministry for Defence recently and some of the thinking and work they are putting into the process is very interesting and we could learn from that. Also, it is important to know what our partners in Europe are thinking in terms of European co-operation in security and defence. Will that be an element in the White Paper when it is produced?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. There will be widespread consultation following the publication of the Green Paper. I am very conscious that when the last White Paper was published it had very important content and it has stood the test of time, in fairness to those who published it, but it appeared a little like a rabbit out of a hat without the level of consultation that I believe should take place, which is why I decided to publish a Green Paper. It will pose a variety of questions and address a number of issues with a view to stimulating domestic debate and also place Ireland in the context in which we now find ourselves within the European Union where there has been substantial treaty changes. There is a very different environment with regard to European security and defence issues. We live in a different environment with regard to the level of international terrorism with which we are now confronted. Sometimes people forget that our White Paper was published prior to the 11 September atrocities, the London bombings and the treats posed by Muslim fundamentalists in various parts of Europe.

I am looking forward to engaging with my European colleagues on these issues, as well as being informed by them on issues of relevance to the formulation of our own White Paper. Obviously, we must ultimately make our own decisions about these matters. I am looking forward to Members participating in this process, as well as arranging several opportunities for people to express their views on the Green Paper including a conference in which it will be debated and discussed.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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May I remind both Ministers and Deputies that there is one minute for both a supplementary question and reply in fairness to all Members? Deputy Naughten now has 30 seconds left for his supplementary.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I echo what the Minister said regarding the handle I gave the individuals in question earlier. They are criminal terrorists. In light of the fact we have a different security environment on this island, and in the European Union as a whole, along with the increased terrorist activity and the increased trafficking of women and children across the Border, is the Minister just closing the stable door after the horse has bolted? The restructuring of the Defence Forces is already taking place in advance of the Green and White Papers.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, time has elapsed and we must move on to the next question.