Seanad debates

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Adjournment Matters

Defence Forces Personnel

1:20 pm

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, is here to reply to my matter which relates to the Department of Defence. This matter relates to the apparent unfair treatment of approximately ten members of the Air Corps based at Gormanston Camp. In 2001, the Air Corps was based in Gormanston and Baldonnel. However, following a restructuring process the section of the Air Corps based in Gormanston, County Meath moved to Baldonnel. Members of the Air Corps at that time were given the option of remaining at Gormanston Camp and in this regard were given a solemn commitment by the Government and their senior officers that they could remain at Gormanston Camp as long as they camp remained open. Approximately 28 to 30 of the Air Corps personnel at that time availed of that option. However, a result of retirements and so on that number has reduced to approximately ten.

I have been approached by many of the wives and families of the staff involved, who have huge concerns around this matter. Having visited some of the individuals concerned at the camp, some of whom I know personally, I am aware they are engaged in important camp administrative tasks. I acknowledge the current restructuring of the Defence Forces. However, in late August this year senior personnel from the Air Corps arrived at Gormanston Camp and announced that the remaining members of the corps there were to be relocated to Baldonnel. I understand that request to relocate to Baldonnel was subsequently nullified and then reinstated with a three month notice period given. As I understand it, the individuals concerned were told they would have to relocate to Baldonnel by 1 December next.

It is important to remember that upon being given the option to remain at Gormanston Camp the individuals concerned entered into many commitments, financial and personal, in the east Meath and south Louth areas, where many of them live. They have bought homes in these areas and have huge ties to there. They will find relocation to Baldonnel very difficult. It may be the case - I have not discussed this matter with any of the people who approached me - that they could take legal action in respect of this matter. I have copies of the documents provided to them at the time of their being given the option to remain in Gormanston Camp, from which it appears clear that these individuals should be able to remain at Gormanston Camp as long as it remains open. I believe the people concerned are being unfairly treated and will be faced with significant fuel bills if required to travel to and from Baldonnel. I do not believe this move should go ahead.

I ask the Minister to consider the letters given to these upstanding members of the Defence Forces over ten years ago, to examine the situation they are now in and to call on the Defence Forces to allow these people continue to carry out key tasks in operating the Gormanston Camp.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, who is unable to be here today owing to long-standing commitments.

I welcome the opportunity today to deal with this issue. As the Senator is no doubt aware, following the Government's comprehensive review of expenditure, the Minister for Defence secured the agreement of the Government to maintain the strength of the Defence Forces at the level of 9,500. While this represents a very significant commitment on the part of the Government, at this strength it was not possible to maintain the organisational structure of the Defence Forces, which had been designed to support a serving strength of 11,500.

As a result, the Minister for Defence asked the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and the Chief of Staff to conduct a detailed review of the organisation and structure of the Defence Forces and to bring forward proposals on an appropriate organisation for a Defence Force of 9,500 serving personnel, which could continue to deliver the services required by Government. The Minister for Defence accepted the proposals submitted jointly by the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff, which recommended a reorganisation of Defence Forces' units based on a two brigade structure.

The implementation of the major reorganisation of the Defence Forces in order to maintain operational capability is now progressing in full consultation with serving personnel and their representative associations. It is important to stress that all options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate are being explored as part of this process. Personnel are being offered the opportunity for reassignment within their current locations, where this is feasible, together with opportunities for retraining and reskilling. In addition, a review system has been put in place, which allows personnel who are unhappy with a proposed relocation to seek a review of a decision. Given the scale of the reorganisation, it will be necessary for some staff to move to new locations.

The Government remains aware that the reorganisation under way is a difficult process for many serving members of the Defence Forces and their families, who are being required to make decisions under the reorganisation that they would not otherwise have to make or in different times would have had to consider. Unfortunately, this is the consequence and reality of the reforms necessarily taking place across the public service.

A key element of the reorganisation and its implementation is to ensure that there are no serving personnel without appointment in the new organisation. In this regard it is understood that a number of personnel in Gormanston Camp, who are on long term detachment from their parent units, which are based in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, continue to serve without appointment. Having regard to the fact that there are to be no personnel serving without appointment it is the case that their detachment at Gormanston is therefore due to end with effect from 30 November 2012 and that said personnel will be required to relocate to their parent units at Baldonnel or to reassign to Army units where there are vacancies.

However, in keeping with the principle underlying the reorganisation that all options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate be explored as part of this process, I can advise that all the personnel concerned were advised of their options and given the opportunity to submit applications seeking reassignment to the Army. While no Army vacancies were available in Gormanston Camp, there were vacancies available in other areas. I understand this option was declined by all the personnel concerned. The Defence Forces, like every other State organisation, is not immune to the current fiscal realities. While the requirements of the reorganisation may come as a disappointment to some of the personnel involved it is crucial to note that there are no job losses involved for the personnel concerned as part of this process. It is imperative everyone fully understands and accepts that there is no painless way to fundamentally reorganise the Defence Forces.

At the same time we must maintain essential military capabilities. It has become necessary to mandatorily move personnel in units which have been disestablished or who cannot be accommodated in their current location.

Without prejudice to the outcome of any request for review of relocation by any of the personnel concerned, as I noted, having rejected the opportunity to apply for Army assignments that were available in locations more convenient to their current location, it will therefore remain the case that the personnel concerned will be required to reassign to their parent units based in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, when their detachment to Gormanston comes to an end at the end of November 2012.

1:30 pm

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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A couple of points arise and there are some major contradictions in the Minister of State's comments. He indicated that vacancies would be given within current locations where feasible but says there are no vacancies in Gormanston. He mentioned the possibility of a review of the decision but that was not brought to my attention by the wives and family members who approached me. I do not believe they are aware of that. What are the details of the review procedure outlined in the speech and will the Minister of State make them available to the members of the Irish Air Corps? Will the decision to move them be postponed while they avail of the review procedure?

The Minister of State indicated his sorrow about what is happening, mentioning that it is terrible, but he does not indicate that these people have a contractual arrangement with the Defence Forces, which has been torn up by the Government. The Government and the Defence Forces are putting themselves in legal jeopardy. It is a matter for the men and their families and I will not comment on it on their behalf. Nevertheless, it seems that the Government is exposed to certain risk. The Minister of State indicates that the Defence Forces are not immune to the cutbacks but they are not immune to the law either. The law should be upheld and this process should be postponed. At the very least, the people involved should be given the opportunity to apply for a review of the decision.

The personnel involved are performing important security and administrative tasks in the camp. It is further evidence that the Government wants to downgrade Gormanston that it wants to move these personnel. We know that by moving them to Baldonnel, it will not pay many of them to travel to work. It is very unfortunate and the State is not showing loyalty to these men who have given the State such loyal service for many years.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It would have been great to retain Defence Forces numbers at 11,500 but the Senator is very much aware of the current economic climate. We made a commitment to hold Defence Forces numbers at 9,500, and I am not sure if the Senator is aware of the recruitment that has taken place in the past few months. He failed to mention it.

Communication lines were open with the military personnel involved in the reorganisation, and everybody was well informed about the decision and had time to think about the relocation. I spoke to many personnel over the past number of months or weeks who have had to relocate and took that decision. We applaud the service given to the military but this decision will not be postponed. The military has provided every opportunity for consultation and the lines of communication have been open in the past few months. Everybody is aware of the reasons we are making these decisions.

I regret that some families and personnel are upset but that is the nature of the beast. We cannot wave a magic wand and fix the economic problems we inherited from the last Government. That is the unfortunate position.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Here we go again. The Government cannot tear up a banker's contract but it can tear up the contracts of loyal Irish Air Corps service men. They serve the country and have done only good for it.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State to continue, without interruption.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It is unfortunate that Senators on the Fianna Fáil side of this House have failed to listen in the past few months. Perhaps if they had been as proactive between 2008 and 2010, before they left government, they could have fixed the country's problems.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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The Opposition of the time went against everything we did but the Government is now claiming credit for it.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I assure Senators that the decision will not be postponed.

The Seanad adjourned at 2.45 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 20 November 2012.