Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which the Permanent Defence Forces have been used to fulfil functions or provide services in the absence of those services due to industrial disputes; the number of such occasions in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s; the enactments that govern the use of the PDF in such events; if the Government has made preparatory plans for the use of the PDF in such contexts in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9870/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the White Paper on Defence the Defence Forces may be requested to assist the civil authorities in the maintenance of essential services. The level of information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

I have set out below the most recent instances where the Defence Forces have either provided assistance or have been put on stand-by to assist in the maintenance of essential services during industrial disputes. These include:

2002 — Military assistance was provided to Dublin City Council during the Ballymun lift dispute.

2002 — Military assistance provided to Donegal County Council during threatened industrial action by Northern Ireland Fire Services.

2002 — on stand-by for a threatened national strike involving retained fire-fighters.

2002/2003 — assistance provided to Midland Health Board and South Eastern Health Board during ambulance disputes.

2004 — DF medical doctors provided assistance to the Irish Prison Service during a medical doctors strike.

2005 — on stand-by to provide assistance to the Irish Prison Services in the event of a strike by Prison Officers.

2007 — on stand-by for threatened fire strike by retained fire fighters in Ennis, Co Clare.

The level of support provided by the Defence Forces, in maintaining essential services, is demand led and is provided on an "as available" basis having regard to both current and contingent Defence Forces' operational commitments.

As a matter of course, the Defence Forces always plan for contingencies where they may be called on to maintain essential services or to respond in security-type situations and this will continue in 2009.