Written answers

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Strength

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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655. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Army Ranger Wing has increased its counter terrorism training in collaboration with An Garda Síochána in view of continued terrorism attacks and threats in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29984/17]

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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656. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the commitment which has been made to date in 2017 to further enhance the capabilities of the Army Ranger Wing as part of the implementation of the White Paper 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29985/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.

Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.

The security environment is kept under constant review including the threat from international terrorism. On-going coordination and liaison meetings take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána and, based on on-going threat assessments, the Gardaí and the Defence Forces liaise with regard to possible Defence Forces supports required for a range of contingencies. An Garda Síochána can request a broad range of supports from the Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and in this context the Army Ranger Wing are trained and equipped to undertake a range of specialist roles.

Details with regard to the precise training of the ARW are not released into the public domain for security and operational reasons.

The White Paper on Defence sets out the capability agenda for the Defence Forces for the next decade. It contains a commitment to further enhance the capabilities of the ARW. Work to identify a range of options in this regard is ongoing as part of the implementation of the White Paper.

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