Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in the review of the implementation of the White Paper on Defence. [6337/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Review of implementation of the White Paper on Defence 2000 was published in April 2007.

The White Paper set a target for implementing change and reorganisation in the Department of Defence and Defence Forces over a 10-year period. The Review of implementation finds that good progress has been made. Particularly noteworthy are the improvements in equipment, infrastructure, training and Human Resources management. The emphasis on developing capabilities and improving interoperability has been successful and continues to facilitate the Defence Forces contribution to peace and security at home and internationally. The reorganisation of the Reserve, set to continue out to 2009, and establishment of the Civil Defence Board on a statutory basis are also significant. The review also noted that the progress achieved had also accommodated very significant developments in the national and international defence and security environments and extensive internal reorganisation and restructuring to the Defence organisation. The Review is available on my Department's website.