Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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42. To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the internal investigation conducted by the Defence Forces into allegations about Irish Defence Forces' personnel working for private security companies and purchasing arms on the black market in South Africa and training special forces in the Seychelles in 2007. [28963/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities completed an investigation into these allegations in 2010 and the Chief of Staff reported to the Minister for Defence at that time in this regard. The Chief of Staff confirmed that of the five personnel against whom allegations were made, two were then serving as members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), and three were former members.

The investigation found no evidence to support the suggestion that Defence Forces equipment was utilised in any of the alleged activities, nor was there any evidence found of any illegal arms purchase or sales. In addition, the investigation found that Defence Forces Regulations were not breached.

During the course of the investigation the Minister for Defence at that time received a letter from the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Staff received a letter from the Seychelles Chief of Defence. Both of these letters indicated that any arms purchased for their State forces was fully legitimate and are in service by authorised Seychelles Government security personnel. In addition, the letters confirmed that Irish Defence Forces personnel only provided and facilitated lawful services for the Government of the Seychelles and in doing so made a significant contribution to the welfare and safety of the country. The letters also indicated that the character of Irish personnel who assisted in training their State police force were of the highest order.

While the investigation found that Defence Force regulations had not been breached, having considered the report, the Chief of Staff concluded that because of the nature of the specialist training required for certain military employments, it may not be compatible with service in the PDF for such training and skills to be employed outside of the PDF.

In this context the Chief of Staff updated the Defence Forces policy on off-duty employment to provide, inter alia , that certain PDF personnel cannot undertake off duty employment that utilises the military training they acquire as part of their service in the PDF.