James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an overview on the implementation of the White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13023/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask the Tánaiste for an overview on the implementation of the defence White Paper and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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

The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy framework out to 2025 and covers all aspects of defence within the broader security policy framework. Since publication of the White Paper in 2015, a total of 95 separate projects were identified for completion over a ten-year period. Project and programme management governance arrangements were put in place to monitor the ongoing status of projects and to review the scope of projects within the programme. Implementation of the White Paper programme has progressed in planned phases since 2015. This phased process was kept under review over the years and was subject to change or update as issues arose and other business dictated. Decisions about which projects to progress at any stage took into account the priorities set out in the programme for Government, available resources and initiatives that are already under way.

In the White Paper, the Government decided to establish a new fixed cycle of defence reviews. Such reviews are common practice internationally and give reassurance that policy remains up to date and relevant to changing future circumstances. The first of these reviews was the White Paper update, which was approved by the Government in December 2019. As part of this, the update included a comprehensive review of overall progress with White Paper implementation. Following on from the White Paper update 2019 and the Government’s high-level implementation plan to implement the report of the Public Service Pay Commission, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces concluded a review in early 2021 of the projects, which resulted in reprioritisation of White Paper projects culminating in the approval of an updated White Paper programme implementation roadmap in February 2021.

The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020, which also agreed its terms of reference. The commission undertook a significant body of work on the future of the Defence Forces, encompassing its wide-ranging terms of reference, having regard to immediate requirements, while also seeking to develop a longer term vision for beyond 2030. It was guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence and the White Paper update of 2019. In February 2022, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published. This was followed by the publication of the high-level action plan in July 2022.

Throughout 2023, the priority was the finalisation of ongoing White Paper projects and the evaluation of potential alignment of outstanding White Paper projects with recommendations or projects approved under the Government’s high-level action plan to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces report.

In September 2023, I published the strategic framework on the transformation of the Defence Forces, which brought together in one overarching document, from the multiplicity of plans developed, the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

My priority within this transformation is cultural change above all else.

A White Paper programme status report is currently being finalised and it is hoped to publish shortly. The report will reflect the current position for each of the 95 White Paper projects and identify the White Paper projects that will be now amalgamated for implementation under the Government approved detailed implementation plan, DIP, to operationalise the CODF transformation. Overall progress on the White Paper has encompassed different areas of business including, but not limited to, policy, capital acquisitions, HR, Civil Defence and infrastructure development.

Work is also ongoing on the strategic defence review, SDR, which is a further part of the fixed cycle of defence reviews introduced in the Defence White Paper of 2015 which I referenced earlier in my reply. The first stage in the strategic defence review was the completion of the security environment assessment undertaken by an interdepartmental and interagency working group. The implications of this security environment assessment were then evaluated for policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing of defence provision in Ireland into the future.

A draft of the strategic defence review is to be submitted to me for my consideration in the coming weeks and following consideration, the strategic defence review will then be brought to Cabinet for agreement and will be published thereafter.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste probably answered the first supplementary I had, which was whether the White Paper has been overtaken by events, in particular, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and if it has, whether there will be a new White Paper or whether we will just work on the commission. Also, will the consultative forum on international security policy require formal change of direction in the form of a White Paper or revised White Paper?

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

The strategic framework on the transformation of the Defence Forces, that I published in September, is the overarching document and our focus is on implementing that in accordance with the timelines that have been set within that framework. We need one clear overarching document. That covers all aspects, both of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the independent review group recommendations pertaining to culture within the Defence Forces also. That said, a White Paper programme status report is currently being finalised and it is hoped to publish shortly.

As the Deputy can see from the reply, there has been lots of paper and lots of work. I am now very focused on actions and getting things done.

In respect of the consultative forum that we had last year, we are working on some aspects of that in terms of the forthcoming legislation. I hope to bring legislation to Government, in respect of the triple lock, for example, and those issues, in terms of the insights that were gleaned and perspectives that were heard at the forum in respect of how the application of the veto at the UN Security Council now means the opportunities to participate in peacekeeping could be few and far between into the future. That is one aspect that we are looking at. There are other aspects, in terms of a maritime security strategy, etc. We will just get on and do the strategies.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2015, the then Government took the view that there was scope during the currency of the White Paper to further develop supports to existing personnel and veterans and this was to include training of serving personnel in order that they would have civilian qualifications once they left the Army and would be able to transfer into civil society and be able to get employment. What progress has been made with training for personnel to ensure that when they exit, not only are they trained but that they have recognised qualifications and applicable vocational skills? Sooner or later, everybody who serves in the Army moves on. Virtually all of them are still of working age. What transitional arrangements are being made to ensure that there is a smooth transition from Army service into civilian life in terms of being trained, skilled and qualified to take up civilian employment?

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

There is extensive training within the Defence Forces. When they eventually leave, many people come out of the Defence Forces very well qualified and eagerly sought after. This is a problem in some respects because we are anxious that people would stay longer in the Defence Forces. That is why we have improved conditions and pay, as well as retirement ages more recently. Significantly, we have raised the retirement age to 60, and eventually to 62, which has been broadly welcomed across the Defence Forces. Our objective is that people stay longer within the Defence Forces and that if we can improve the overall quality of life for Defence Forces members, that would ensure retention of members for a far greater period than perhaps has been the case in the recent past.

There are extensive programmes. Certainly, the evidence seems to suggest that there are many opportunities for personnel in the private sector after they complete their time in the Defence Forces.