Press release
Commission on the Defence Forces: Statement by Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD
From Commission on the Defence Forces
Published on
Last updated on
From Commission on the Defence Forces
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, has today announced government approval for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The government also approved the Terms of Reference and the membership of the Commission. Today’s decision taken at Cabinet follows a commitment made in the Programme for Government to establish a Commission on the Defence Forces before the end of the year.
Speaking following today’s Government meeting, Minister Coveney stated:
“The establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces underpins the government’s commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, both in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision for beyond 2030. In establishing this Commission, which contains impressive national and international high-level expertise and experience, the government are seeking to ensure that the outcome of this process will be a Defence Forces that is agile, flexible and adaptive in responding to dynamic changes in the security environment, including new and emerging threats and technologies.”
The Minister noted that the Terms of Reference require that the Commission’s overall approach will be guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019, which set out Ireland’s overall Defence Policy approach. This is against a backdrop of the high-level Defence goal which is to provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government. This fits within the broader context of the protection of Ireland’s defence and security interests nationally and internationally.
Announcing the membership of the Commission, the Minister said:
“I am delighted that Mr Aidan O’Driscoll, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, and previously Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, has agreed to chair the Commission on the Defence Forces. Mr O’Driscoll has an exceptional track record of service to the State and I know he brings an outstanding set of skills and experience to the role, as will the other members of the Commission. The members have been carefully chosen to ensure the optimum range of expertise in key areas including management, HR, security policy, public service, as well as both domestic and international military expertise.”
The Minister thanked the Chairperson and the members of the Commission for their willingness to serve, and noted that he looks forward to receiving the Commission’s Report in 12 months’ time.
ENDS
1. The establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces is an important commitment made in the Programme for Government, which provides that the Commission is to be established before the end of this year, with a mandate to report within 12 months.
2. In accordance with a commitment made in the Programme for Government, the Minister consulted widely on the Terms of Reference, involving a wide stakeholder group comprising the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, the Defence Forces representative associations, the Defence Forces veterans associations, the unions and associations representing Department of Defence staff and civilian employees, the Defence spokespersons of the Sinn Féin, Social Democrat and Labour parties, the Institute of International and European Affairs, the Royal Irish Academy and all other government departments. All submissions were considered in finalising the Terms of Reference.
In addressing the detailed tasks as provided for in its Terms of Reference, the Commission will have regard to immediate requirements while also seeking to develop a longer term vision for beyond 2030. This is against a backdrop of the high-level Defence goal which is to provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government. This fits within the broader context of the protection of Ireland’s defence and security interests nationally and internationally. The Commission’s approach should aim to ensure that the Defence Forces will remain agile, flexible and adaptive in responding to dynamic changes in the security environment, including new and emerging threats (such as from climate change) and technologies.
It is understood that recommendations of the Commission may require legislative changes.
In arriving at its findings and recommendations for arrangements for the effective defence of the country, the Commission will have regard to the level of funding provided by Government for Defence.
The following Terms of Reference, and the Commission’s overall approach will be guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019, which set out Ireland’s extant Defence Policy, including the current Security Environment Assessment, as set out in the White Paper Update.
The Commission will be supported by an independent Secretariat under the direction of the Chairperson and will have available to it specific legal expertise and access to any additional research or analysis required to be carried out on its behalf.