Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 91: To ask the Minister for Defence the membership of the Council of Defence; when the council last met; the tasks it has in hand; if it is proposed to allocate additional functions to the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38174/05]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Council of Defence is provided for in section 11 of the Defence Act 1954. The council consists of the Minister of State, the Secretary General of the Department, the chief of staff and the two deputy chiefs of staff. The purpose of the council under the Act is to aid and counsel the Minister on all matters in relation to the Department of Defence on which the Minister may consult the council. The council last met in 1987.

The council's origins lie in a requirement in the early years of the State to enshrine the civil-military management process in a formalised way. However, in modern times, senior civil and military staff meet on a regular basis, individually and jointly, as part of normal day-to-day business. Advice is readily available to Ministers from civil and military staff without the formality of the Council of Defence.

In these circumstances the question of allocating additional functions to the council does not arise. The White Paper on defence — February 2000 — recognised this reality and noted that this would be reflected in amending legislation when the opportunity arose.