Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Defence the regulations or procedures governing media interviews given by general staff of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8957/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The question of public comment on official matters by any member of the Defence Forces is governed by Paragraph 27 of Defence Force Regulation A.7, which prohibits the airing of individual opinions on service matters, public business or politics. This prohibition is supplemented by a direction that comment, if any, touching on questions of a political nature — whether national or international — shall avoid strictly any reference which might be construed as being of a controversial nature.

These Regulatory provisions apply to all military officers, regardless of rank. There are no additional guidelines or restrictions that apply uniquely to senior officers. However, a tradition of strict political neutrality has governed senior public service managers since the foundation of the State and senior military officers have always been governed by that tradition.

On the matter of communicating official information or other interaction with the media, the Defence Forces may communicate the official position on an agreed set of topics, relating mainly to military operational matters. On matters of policy one official position is defined either by the Government, by me as Minister for Defence (or through my officials). In this regard, judgement is required in distinguishing between purely operational matters and matters of policy.

In recent years, there has been a growing public interest in defence and security issues. As a consequence, a more wide-ranging public debate has ensued. I have no doubt that, as a former Commissioned Officer of the Defence Forces, Deputy Timmins understands the requirement that members of the Defence Forces should not make any comment whatsoever on matters of a political nature or on matters which are for decision by Government or which will come before either House of the Oireachtas for discussion or decision. The reason for this is simple: we live in a democracy and we alone, as elected politicians, are answerable to the people. I welcome the expression of views by senior military personnel on matters of current or proposed policy in private and through the chain of command. At the same time, it is of particular importance that officers of the Defence Forces do not become involved in public debate on the merits of any matter of defence policy.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to set the record straight on what my intentions were in writing to the Chief of Staff on 10 January last. I was disappointed that an internal letter from me to the Chief of Staff appeared in the media and was subject to distortion. Let me be very clear that the Chief of Staff has done nothing warranting a public rebuke. I have seen at first hand the contribution that the Chief of Staff has made to the Defence Forces in a distinguished career. This contribution should in no way be tarnished by the leaking and malicious misrepresentation of my letter.

I am satisfied that the Chief of Staff did not intend to enter into public debate on such matters. I did however consider it appropriate to re-state the position relating to publicity and interaction with the media by the members of the Defence Forces and to bring this to the attention of all relevant Defence Forces personnel. As I have said, I am happy to set the record straight in response to the appearance of the letter in the media and to state that the matter is now closed, and the Chief of Staff and I are dealing with business as normal as we have always done.