Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that all Irish troops based at home or abroad including the Navy and Air Corps are trained to the highest international standards; that the same degree of modern technology is made available to them as is available to other armies worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25231/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that each of the services, Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are fully equipped to meet the roles assigned to them by Government.

On the issue of training, I am satisfied that military training techniques are up to date in all respects. Defence Forces training plans are structured to provide the capabilities needed to execute the roles assigned to them by Government under the White Paper on Defence of February 2000. The challenges of preparing military units for participation in overseas missions constitute the major dimension of Defence Forces collective training. The primary focus of this training is the attainment of a capability for military interoperability in order to conduct overseas operations to international standards.

Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper of 2000, which have been fully re-invested in the provision of equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces. The level of investment has ensured that Defence Force's personnel have the most modern and effective range of equipment to carry our their day-to-day roles both at home and overseas and for training purposes.