asked the Minister for Defence the payments this country receives from the United Nations in respect of Irish participation in UNIFIL; the portion of this money which is passed on to the troops in terms of additional allowances; if he will give the allowances paid to Irish troops with UNIFIL over and above their normal pay; the way in which these allowances compare with those paid to soldiers of other contingents in UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Troops with UNIFIL.
5.
(Limerick West): The current rate of reimbursement by the United Nations in respect of UNIFIL troop costs is $600 per man-month against the envisaged figure of $1,048. While I have no information as to the level of overseas allowance paid to their contingents by other members of UNIFIL, I understand that the rate of reimbursement by the United Nations is the same for all contingents. The rate of reimbursement is expected to amount to £3.7 million in 1988. The under-payments by the United Nations arise from a shortfall in the UNIFIL fund which is due to the nonpayment by certain UN member states of their assessed contribution to the fund.
Daily rates of overseas allowance paid by my Department in respect of service with UNIFIL range from £14.05 to £22.84. These rates are not related to receipts from the United Nations and are expected to amount to £4.3 million in 1988.
In regard to the allowance, the Minister talks of £14.05 to £22.84, in the normal course, that would be close to allowances paid to those members if they were engaged in certain duties at home. I would like the Minister to confirm that. In view of all that has been said here today, will he or the Government or a committee look at the question of increasing the rates of reimbursement——
Please, Deputy.
That a Cheann Comhairle, relates entirely to this question.
I trust the Deputy is not adverting to an earlier question.
No. I am merely asking whether the Minister has any proposals to increase the rate of reimbursement out of the allowance from UNIFIL to the Minister for the services rendered by Irish soldiers abroad.
(Limerick West): The allowances being paid are allowances decided by the UN. I do not understand the Deputy's question. Reimbursements to whom? Is he talking about reimbursement from the UN?
Perhaps I might clarify that. The Minister and I are getting lost. Perhaps I might restate my question in simple terms. There is widespread dissatisfaction amongst Irish soldiers serving in UN forces when they compare what they are paid with what other soldiers from other countries are paid for the same duty.
We are having a statement from the Deputy.
That being the case, has the Minister any proposals to review and increase the rate of pay to soldiers from Ireland serving abroad with the UN in view of the large amounts of money that the Government are paid for their services?
That should be sufficient.
(Limerick West): There is in fact a net loss to the Exchequer of sending our troops abroad of about £0.8 million a year. The pay which is being paid to our members serving with the UN is the normal pay. The allowance, as I have already pointed out, is in addition to that and those are the allowances laid down by the UN.
Let me put one other brief question.
I am calling Deputy Bell now. Deputy McCartan has had a good innings.
Could the Minister explain to the House the manner in which these special allowances are arranged? Are they decided arbitrarily by the UN or are they decided in conjunction with the UN by the Department? What say, if any, has the Department of Defence in setting the levels of allowances?
(Limerick West): Of course the Department have ongoing talks with the UN but the final decision rests with the UN.
8.
asked the Minister for Defence the effect the reduction of £170,000 in 1989 for the purchase of provision for the Defence Forces will have; and if this reduction implies a further reduction in the number of serving personnel.
(Limerick West): I am satisfied that the amount provided in subhead K of the 1989 Defence Estimate for the purchase of provisions will be adequate to meet requirements. The 1989 Estimate is based on an average Permanent Defence Force other ranks strength of 11,400 as against 11,600 in 1988.
Would the Minister agree that the other ranks number, as recently as 1987, was 11,900 and that the figure projected for 1989 is a reduction of 500 and that in regard to an already overstretched Army that is going to be a serious problem?
(Limerick West): The average strength of other ranks in the Permanent Defence Force in 1987 was 11,655 and the current strength as at 3 September 1988 of other ranks in 11,861.
The Book of Estimates provides for an annual strength of 11,900.
I should like to ask the Minister if food for the serving personnel is purchased under this subhead. If so, and the figure shows a reduction of £170,000 for the coming year on the figure provided for 1988, does that not imply a reduction in the number of men or a cutback in the rations?
(Limerick West): I said that there was a reduction in the number of men from 11,600 in 1988 to 11,400 in 1989.
That is in contradiction to the information given by the Minister earlier when he sought to imply that he was recruiting additional men to the Defence Forces. Surely the truth now lies in the fact that there will be a reduction in the number, as this side of the House has been saying.
(Limerick West): The information I gave to the Deputy in regard to recruitment is correct. I have recruited the number I mentioned. Deputy Wyse asked about a reduction of £170,000 for the purchase of provisions and I have given the House the reason for that drop.
I find it difficult to understand the Minister in view of information contained in the Defence Estimate. According to subhead K——
The Deputy may not quote at Question Time.
That subhead shows a reduction of 6 per cent. Is the Minister satisfied that, taking into account that reduction, he will have adequate funds to cater for the Defence Forces? In other words, will there be enough food to feed the men and, if not, from what source will the Minister get the money?
(Limerick West): I should like to assure the Deputy that there will be adequate provisions to feed the men and women.
I am beginning to doubt the Minister.