Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, to the House and wish him well in future with respect to appointments and promotions. I also welcome the representatives of PDFORRA and the families of service personnel. They are in the Gallery this afternoon.

This is a topic that both I and Senator Craughwell, along with others, have sought for quite some time so we very much appreciate that the Minister of State is here this afternoon. As Senator Ó Donnghaile has stated, many of the areas have been covered and I have no wish to go back over them. Suffice it to say, as my colleague, Senator Gallagher outlined, the people of this country have much respect for our Defence Forces, our Reserve Defence Forces and our Civil Defence. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure their conditions of service are appropriate and the level of equipment is fit for purpose for a modern defence force. The State's defence policy, its implementation and its resourcing must be appropriate. For our part, Fianna Fáil has committed to a defence policy that is measured, fit for purpose, appropriately resourced and which allows the Department of Defence and Defence Forces to go forward with confidence in an ever-changing world of new and emerging threats. As my colleague, Senator Gallagher, has pointed out, over the past 25 years there have been eight reorganisations or reviews within the Defence Forces. However, there is a significant downside to all of this, as it has resulted in turmoil and relocation, uncertainty and confusion for members of the Defence Forces. Such tensions and family displacements are not conducive to optimum operational viability or good morale.

The Defence Forces have been an easy target for cost-cutting and the unreserved loyalty and professionalism of its members have been taken advantage of. Policy has become a matter of fitting the Defence Forces into a particular budget, which is not acceptable. It is not the making of policy but rather the emasculation of the Defence Forces by stealth. The Defence Forces now need stability, policy and resource certainty, and my party is committed to this necessity

The Minister of State pointed out that in 2012, on the joint advice of the then chief of staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence it was decided to maximise operational capacity and provide for an organisation that is flexible and which can accommodate new, unexpected demands. As part of that strategy, in March 2012, the only purpose-built Army barracks in the history of the State - the most modern in Europe - was closed. This was done to maximise operational capacity and accommodate new or unexpected demands. It was pointed out by myself and other Members of this and the Lower House that this action was a mistake. We have since had an increase in dissident republican activity in the Border area and Brexit.

I am amazed to hear the Minister of State say this afternoon that Brexit will not have an effect on the operational functions of the Army. From Donegal to Louth there are no Army personnel based on the Border. It is an area with over 300 crossings and it will become a frontier. As the UK exits - I hate using that term with regard to the Six Counties of our country but as we speak they are members of the United Kingdom - the North of Ireland will no longer be part of the European Union. The British Government does not know what will be the consequences of that exit and the Irish Government certainly does not know the consequences. How can the Minister of State assure us that he is confident - as somebody responsible for the Defence Forces - there will be no impact on how the Defence Forces defend our State? It is not acceptable and I would like to hear the Minister of State's comments on that.

I appreciate that the Minister of State did not have time to deal with the Reserve Defence Force in his speech. What are the up-to-date figures for the Reserve Defence Forces? How many members does it have and what proposals are there to accommodate them in appropriate premises so they can carry out training? I pay tribute to the Civil Defence, whose members are located throughout the Twenty-six Counties, for the excellent work they do on a daily and weekly basis.