The Fine Gael defence spokeswoman has accused the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, of stalling on the review of the Naval Service and Air Corps.
Ms Frances Fitzgerald said yesterday it was "quite outrageous" that the implementation group charged with conducting the Price Waterhouse review of the two defence wings had not yet had its first meeting. The Minister, who said he would chair the group himself, had promised to hold the first meeting in September.
The failure to convene a meeting confirms the worst fears of the Minister's critics within the Defence Forces representative organisations, RACO and PDFORRA, which accuse him of delaying any decision until the White Paper on Defence is published. The Price Waterhouse report recommended a £235 million re-equipment plan for both wings, more staff for the Naval Service and a cutback in Air Corps personnel, while confirming the multi-tasking role of both.
In early September, the Minister sought to meet concerns by announcing the recruitment of an extra 70 staff for the Naval Service, and giving a personal commitment to oversee the implementation plan.
Fine Gael believes the State must earmark about £70 million in capital expenditure and £44 million in current expenditure - before EU support - over the next 10 years for the Naval Service to cope with increasing pressure to patrol Ireland's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. In a policy document, Ms Fitzgerald has said the service must be modelled on a maritime police force similar to the US coastguard.
The threat of increased drug trafficking, environmental "pirates" and commercial interests prepared to "plunder our considerable marine assets" makes it imperative the fleet size and powers of the Naval Service be expanded, the Fine Gael document states. The State has one patrol ship for every 18,757 sq miles. Portugal has one for every 3,121 sq miles, Belgium one for every 666 sq miles and Denmark one for every 555 sq miles, the document says.
Fine Gael has called for a fleet of 12 vessels, with one new ship to be ordered immediately and three more over the next decade. An eighth ship is already on order in Britain. It has also demanded continuous recruitment at both cadet and NCO level, new systems of promotion and training, expansion of powers at sea, and relocation of headquarters and budgetary control under the Flag Officer to Haulbowline. It also believes the Naval Service should have a dedicated press officer.
A spokesman for the Minister said yesterday that the delay in convening the implementation group was due to a delay in receiving nominations for it from the Taoiseach, Minister for Finance and Minister for the Marine. A meeting is expected shortly after the final nomination is received, the spokesman said.
