Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the priorities for 2023 with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5045/23]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the review by his Department and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5145/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent of progress in recent months in implementing the reforms in the Defence Forces identified in a recent report with particular reference to all of the major recommendations, including on recruitment, pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5171/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Very briefly, I ask the Tánaiste about the priorities being set out for the start of the year ahead especially towards the implementation of the various recommendations and the report for the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 27, 59 and 74 together. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government, and its report was published on 9 February 2022. The commission has undertaken a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland and covers high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding. Given the significant recommendations contained in the report, detailed consideration of these recommendations was undertaken over a period of five months by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Following this engagement, a high-level action plan and a memorandum for Government were brought to Government and approved on 12 July 2022. This involved the approval of a move to Level of Ambition 2, LOA2, as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, which is the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the commission. The budget for 2023 included an increase of €67 million over the 2022 budget. That includes an almost 25% increase in capital funding and demonstrates our commitment to supporting the transformation of the Defence Forces. The move to LOA2 will require an additional 2,000 personnel over and above the current establishment of 9,500. Work has already commenced on this with the recently announced Be More recruitment campaign.

The high-level action plan set out initial implementation and oversight structures. An implementation oversight group has been established which met for the first time on 3 October. Subsequently, Julie Sinnamon was appointed as the independent chair of the implementation oversight group with a second meeting taking place on 17 November and a third meeting taking place on 27 January. A high-level steering board has been established, to which end the Department of the Taoiseach will oversee the implementation. A civil-military implementation management office, IMO, has been established to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement the recommendations. The initial focus is on the implementation of the 38 early actions as set out in the high-level action plan and as I detailed earlier, to date approximately two thirds of these 38 actions have been achieved.

I think I have already dealt with some of them.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a group of questions on this subject.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sorry; I was racing through that a bit. As I said, to date, approximately two thirds of these 38 early actions have been achieved. For example, the head of transformation and the head of strategic HR positions have been advertised externally and progressed. Implementation and governance structures have been developed and initiated, including the establishment of an implementation oversight group with Ms Julie Sinnamon appointed as an independent chair. The requirement for a three-star private able seaman to mark time for the first three years at that rank has been removed. We have ensured that all personnel of private three-star able seaman rank are paid the full rate of MSA applicable to the rank. Recruitment and induction have been developed, encompassing advertising, expanded recruitment and induction capacity. Progress has been made on the remaining early actions, with most currently at an advanced stage and due to be completed shortly. These actions include the establishment of an office of reserve affairs, the commencement of Army force design planning, and the establishment of a capability development planning process and permanent structure. I intend to publish a comprehensive written update on all 38 early actions in the coming weeks.

One of the key early actions is the development of a detailed implementation plan, which is also at an advanced stage. This detailed implementation plan will clearly set out the work that is to be progressed in implementing the commission recommendations in full. It is a priority for me that this plan is both ambitious and credible and supports the transformation of the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland. My focus is on ensuring we get this plan right to support the transformation of the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I very much agree with the Tánaiste that the implementation plan needs to be credible. This is important. It was due to be published in January, as I understand it. Is there a plan for when this will be published or do we know how near it is to being published? Regarding engagement and involvement with the different representative organisations concerning advancing this endeavour, has the Tánaiste met with them? Turning to the exemptions under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, how these would be implemented for the Defence Forces is important. Is this going to happen? Is it going to apply to people? Is this part of the plan? I ask the Tánaiste to outline the situation with these matters.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste mentioned that the newly appointed independent chair is Ms Julie Sinnamon. She has been an exceptional public servant and I have no doubt that she will do a very good job again on behalf of the State and all its citizens.

I wish to talk about structures in the Army, with particular reference to accommodation. Unfortunately, 11 years ago the most modern army barracks in Europe, Dún Uí Néill in Cavan, was closed. It is a location centrally situated in the Border region. We have no Army facility now between Finner Barracks in south Donegal and Aiken Barracks in Dundalk. We all know the geopolitical situation has changed in Europe, with Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and Britain's exit from the EU. An issue that needs to be considered is the number of facilities we have for our Army personnel and their location. We all want to see 10,500 people enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces. If we do this, then we need additional accommodation. I sincerely hope that the reopening of Dún Uí Néill barracks can be given urgent, detailed and favourable consideration.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The points made by the previous speaker are important. We can talk about this for as long as we like and we have talked about this for a very long time. The issues are apparent to everybody. They are apparent to the Defence Forces. These are acute issues and they need to be addressed in a much shorter time. The debate has taken place and I agree entirely with the points made by the Tánaiste and the other speakers. This all depends, however, on how quickly we can implement these actions and how quickly we can put them into operation. We must nail this down once and for all. Otherwise, we will be in an area of speculating as to what might happen in future and when it should happen or if it should ever happen. We must remember that there are possibly people in some places who hope this process will never happen, and as a result it does not happen. In line with Deputy Howlin and the other speakers, therefore, I appeal to the Tánaiste to put this process in motion quickly and to take control of this endeavour himself.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their comments. I am in office for just over a month, and I am determined to get beyond the management-speak and to get stuff implemented. I have reflected on the presentations I have received so far. Some progress has been made in some areas, but not fast enough in others. We have discussed the Organisation of Working Time directive. This is not simple. From my previous experience in different Departments, even when that came in originally, it was a very complex piece of work and there was much resistance in different organisations to the concept. Deputy Howlin will recall that in earlier times, and Deputy Aindrias Moynihan has raised this specific point, people felt the world was going to collapse in various professions, not least the health service.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have done it across the board and we are going to do it for the Defence Forces. I have asked that this work be expedited to get it completed, and that work continue on the terms and conditions and the overall environment within which people are working.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are six contributors this time, so I am going back to Deputy Ó Muineacháin.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for outlining his intention to implement that directive. The commission believes it is important in that it would improve retention, well-being and productivity in the Defence Forces. There are derogations in this regard, but these should only be there in exceptional or extraordinary situations. There is concern that many of these exemptions would be too wide-ranging. It is important therefore that any derogations, if they are needed, would be intended for narrow and exceptional situations so that we do not end up with the ridiculous situation like the one we have in the prison in Portlaoise. Prison officers there qualify under the provisions of the Act but Defence Forces' personnel do not. I ask that any exemptions that would be there would be exceptional and extraordinary, as advised by the commission.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. As he is aware, Cavan had a proud Army tradition over the years. Generations of families joined and were proud to serve our country at home and abroad. I am sure Deputy Berry and others in the House would agree with me that there was always greater recruitment in areas where there were substantial Army barracks, such as in Cavan, Kildare and other noteworthy places. Again, therefore, I appeal for the needs of the Border region to be considered in the context of the possibility of having Dún Uí Néill barracks reopened.

In Lebanon recently, the Minister met members of the Defence Forces from my county of Cavan and they spoke to him about their family connections. He knew some of those families as well. I do not think, therefore, that we should ever underestimate the continuity in family tradition and recruitment in areas where there has been a substantial Army presence over the years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the previous speaker on the salient issues. The Minister is in the best position to identify those, drive them forward and achieve results in the short term. Morale is affected throughout the Defence Forces due to the length of time we have discussed these issues without any marked degree of success, although that is not his fault. The salient issues can be dealt with shortly and quickly. I echo the words of my colleague in that regard, particularly in relation to traditional military constituencies.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has come in here and said he is only a month in the job. I hate to remind him that he has been Taoiseach over the past two years. That speaks to the lack of urgency and seriousness the Government has given the major crisis within the Defence Forces. The Minister's comments hit the nail on the head. He said that of the 38 early actions, two thirds have been implemented, as if that is some sort of major achievement. The reality is that one third have not been implemented within the Government's own timeframe. These were supposed to be implemented within the first six months of the Government giving its response, which it did in July. It has missed its own targets. We do not need an implementation body. The implementation of these early actions that the Government identified is in its hands, not those of an implementation body. When are the remaining one third of the early actions the Government identified going to be fully implemented?

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to speak to the point my colleague, Deputy Smith, made. Soldiers, men and women, are very much willing to rough it and tough it but they want to come home to a home environment as well. Accommodation is something that needs to be addressed. In Meelick, County Clare, which is my home village, a housing scheme was built in the 1980s in partnership with Father Harry Bohan. It was affordable housing for its time. To this day, more than half of the families in Elton Court, which is a fabulous housing estate, are current or former members of the Defence Forces. Such a scheme would be fantastic if we could do it again. Maybe the Minister could partner with his colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to give these people a roof over their heads where families can be reared in the community close to the barracks.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their constructive suggestions. I am very much taken by Deputy Smith's point. When talking to military personnel, including those in the Naval Service, Air Corps or Army, there is a strong link back to geography and where barracks were present. Of that there is no doubt. The focus of capital investment at the moment is on upgrading existing facilities but I will talk to the Deputy further in respect of the issue he has raised.

The issues raised by Deputy Moynihan have to be sorted in the context of the working time directive in locations such as Portlaoise. Historically, a dependence built up on the Army in such places, which in itself must be looked at and reflected on with regard to the appropriateness of some of the duties that are still asked of the military on the civil side in the modern day. That is a matter of ongoing review.

On Deputy Howlin's point, there has been a commitment within government, in terms of the commission and the implementation of the plan, to a progressive increase in capital.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, with procurement you do not spend a whole lot in the early years. To take a radar facility for example, or any building that is planned, it is in the latter stages of the completion that the drawdown happens in respect of capital expenditure, so there can be a progressive increase in capital expenditure over the lifetime of the plan.

Deputy Brady and I will have to agree to disagree. We have implemented a lot and a lot of progress has been made. Significant additional resources have been allocated to this.

I take Deputy Crowe's point about accommodation. In Gormanstown, for example, there will be accommodation in the training facility. There has been some significant investment in Haulbowline in respect of accommodation. I understand the point the Deputy is making and there is merit in it.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Do not forget the salient issues as well.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Durkan made similar points about the tradition and those areas, similar to what Deputy Smith referenced.