Written answers

Thursday, 3 November 2005

Department of Defence

Overseas Missions

5:00 pm

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence the level of interest of contract soldiers in serving in the Defence Forces' overseas missions; his plans to encourage more contract soldiers to serve in overseas missions; the difficulties this situation is causing for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31995/05]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have already dealt with the recent changes made in the terms of enlistment of those personnel joining the Permanent Defence Force post-1994 in an earlier question and I would refer the Deputy to that reply.

In 2004 PDFORRA submitted a claim under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for a further review of the terms of service applying to personnel enlisting in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994. Following detailed and prolonged discussion on this claim a set of criteria has been agreed. The criteria meet PDFORRA's desire to provide longer careers in the Permanent Defence Force while continuing to address the Government's previously stated objective of having an appropriate age profile to meet the challenges of a modern defence forces. The criteria require that any person re-engaging must be able to continue to operate at their current level both at home and overseas on an ongoing basis. Re-engagements will be subject to the individual soldier meeting specified criteria in regard to physical fitness, medical category, successful completion of military courses of instruction, service overseas and conduct ratings. PDFORRA is currently in the process of balloting its members on the criteria which have been agreed.

The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 provides that an officer appointed or a man enlisted after the date of its passing is liable to serve outside the State with a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force despatched for service with international forces established by the United Nations. With the passage of time since 1960 all personnel of the Permanent Defence Force are now liable for such service. All personnel are therefore obliged to serve overseas as part of a UN Chapter VI peacekeeping operation under their terms of employment.

Under the 1960 Act service with an international United Nations force was confined to a force established for the performance of duties of a police character, Chapter VI. The Defence (Amendment) Act 1993 provided for service by members of the Permanent Defence Force in peace enforcement operations mounted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Anyone entering the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 July 1993 is liable for service under the new arrangements.

Raising troops for overseas missions is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. While Defence Forces personnel are liable under their terms of enlistment for overseas service, the current system for filling appointments on overseas units is generally by volunteers. It is only in circumstances where the requisite volunteers are not available that personnel are mandatorily selected. I am advised that of the 3,371 personnel serving who enlisted for general service since 1994, 2006, 60%, of these have served in overseas missions. A total of 1,042, 31%, have served in overseas missions on more than one occasion.

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