Speech by An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, Confidence Motion, Dail Eireann, 17th February 2010.
Introduction
I move the motion that Dáil Éireann has complete confidence in the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea.
These are very challenging times, possibly the most challenging facing any Government for decades and the progress of many projects and plans will be subject to constraints on resources. Following on from the difficult decisions we took in the Budget and the Estimates, and the Review of the Programme for Government, we now have a clear agenda going forward.
In the Department of Defence the priority for the year ahead is to ensure that the Defence organisation maintains the capability to deliver on all of the roles assigned by Government. At the outset, I want to express my complete confidence and that of the Government in the Minister for Defence to continue to do his job.
In the midst of the worst global recession since the 1930s, arresting the decline in the Defence Forces strength and reaching the recently approved PDF strength of 10,000 will be achieved through prioritised recruitment, with the overarching focus remaining on Defence Forces operational requirement. We are also committed to preparing a new Defence White Paper for the period 2011 to 2020 as we plan for the future. I believe Minister O'Dea with his experience, his ability and his work ethic is the best person to undertake this work.
The Opposition's Attack on Minister O'Dea
I want to avail of the time this motion affords us to outline the massive contribution Minister O'Dea has made in the Department of Defence. But before I do that, I want to put the Opposition's attack on Minister O'Dea in context.
Their criticism of him does not arise from anything he has done in the course of his duties as Minister for Defence. I have heard people on the Opposition benches openly try to propagate the myth that the Minister is in breach of the cabinet code of conduct, as set out in the handbook. But this is once again a case of political discourse from the opposition benches generating more heat than light.
The matter of current controversy did not pertain to Willie O'Dea's responsibilities as a Minister in the Government. It did not pertain to Government policies in any way, shape or form and had nothing to do with his function in the Department of Defence.
The Defamation Action
The facts are now well known. As the Minister said to the House yesterday, on December 21st a defamation action; taken against Minister O'Dea by Sinn Féin Cllr Maurice Quinlivan on foot of remarks made by Minister O'Dea in a local Limerick newspaper interview, was mutually agreed and settled in the High Court.
As part of that settlement; a statement was read out in Court which containing the following paragraph: "It is not suggested by Mr Quinlivan that Mr O'Dea acted other than innocently in making such denial and he accepts that there was no intention to mislead on the part of Mr O'Dea."
Minister O'Dea has acknowledged that his recollection of the interview in his original affidavit was wrong; he corrected his mistake when he realised it. He admitted and apologised for this mistake and agreed a settlement in which the other party fully accepted that there was no intention to mislead.
The matter was a personal one between Minister O'Dea and the local Sinn Féin representative concerned. It was dealt with and resolved in open Court over two months ago. The matter is closed.
Despicable Charges of Perjury
I want to say clearly that it does not serve this Oireachtas well for people to throw around or imply ill-founded allegations of perjury in a coarse attempt to secure political advantage. Lets be clear, perjury does not arise here and it is despicable that some have suggested it.
My understanding is that where there is no intention to mislead and the matter is corrected as soon as possible there is no question of perjury. The position is that for perjury to occur a person must know the statement to be false or not believe it to be true. Perjury in Ireland is governed by common law as the British 1911 Act governing it never applied to Ireland. The British 1911 Act is clear that a person has to give evidence which he "knows to be false or does not believe to be true", and this formula has also been used in Irish statutes. Thus it is clear, in my view, that perjury contrary to common law would also not arise where someone was mistaken.
Timing of Fine Gael's No Confidence
The approach being taken by the opposition parties sets out that they are once again trying to take the low road to high office. It seems to me that their intent on a no confidence motion is completely spurious in both timing and motivation. First of all in relation to the timing issue, yesterday in this House Deputy Kenny said that he found it - and I quote:
"truly astonishing that two months after an issue in respect of a Cabinet Minister became public knowledge the Taoiseach did nothing about it. This is a matter of the most serious import."
Who is the Deputy trying to fool here? If Deputy Kenny felt that this matter was of the most serious import why did he not raise it with me when the Dáil resumed last month? Why did he not demand a statement from either me or the Minister for Defence before now?
So why are we debating it this week?
Is it because of the traumas Deputy Kenny and his party endured last week?
Is the Leader of Fine Gael trying to divert attention from his crisis by foisting a drama on to somebody else?
Is he tabling motions of no confidence because he is afraid that if he doesn't another party will and the Leader of Fine Gael will be seen as once again being behind the curve?
A Ceann Comhairle, Fine Gael's posturing about a motion of no confidence is completely spurious. It is just a diversion.
Their intent to seek the resignation of Minister O'Dea is indicative of a growing tendency within the opposition that focuses on personality not politics. It is sad that once again their approach amounts to playing the man rather than the ball.
Rather than be out done in the sham indignation by Deputy Gilmore, Deputy Kenny has chosen to join him in taking the old discredited Labour approach of "heads in baskets".
Waste of Dáil Time
The Opposition's eagerness for a motion of no confidence is a motion premised not on the implementation or the administration of the Programme for Government commitments on Defence, but rather on Enda Kenny's promise to his parliamentary party in the aftermath of the George Lee debacle that "what I'm going to do now is be myself."
The waste of valuable hours of Dáil debate on an unnecessary and unjustified Motion of No Confidence, at a time when there are real and pressing issues to be addressed, owes more to Deputy Kenny's need to prove to his TDs that he is, in the words of Deputy Coveney "up to the job" than it does to any real concern or reservation about the running and administration of the Department of Defence.
I want to say unequivocally that I am happy to affirm complete confidence in the Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea. I have the utmost confidence in his abilities and his capacity to do his job. On my election as Taoiseach in May 2008, it was my privilege to reappoint Willie O'Dea to the Department of Defence. He has served in that role with distinction since 2004. His track-record is second to none and while achievement and ability to do the job obviously count for little on the opposition benches, I believe the people of this country are fairer-minded.
They recognise achievement and they know too that sometimes people makes mistakes. Everyone is all for accountability in public office but, when people make a genuine mistake which has nothing to do with their official duties and where they have moved to quickly correct that mistake and they have settled the matter with the aggrieved party, I don't see why I should listen to the usual predictable calls from the opposition to remove from office arguably the best, the most efficient and the hardest-working Minister for Defence this country has seen in modern times.
Minister for Defence's Achievements
The opposition are more interested in innuendo and stirring up controversy than in people's political record. I'd like to spend some time balancing those particular books and to point out that I have the utmost confidence in Minister O'Dea because he has shown real skills in overseeing the continued modernisation of the Defence Forces and he has brought about significant progress across a broad range of areas. The McCarthy report acknowledged the ongoing modernisation in Defence and this is the vein I want to see the Minister continue in during the period ahead.
It is worth pointing out to the House some of the many achievements of Minister O'Dea in the Department of Defence.
Equipment / Property
Under his tenure, significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper of 2000, which have been fully re-invested in the provision of equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces. The level of investment has ensured that Defence Force's personnel have a modern and highly effective range of equipment to carry out their day-to-day roles both at home and overseas and for training purposes.
Under the Minister's stewardship, the Department's property portfolio is kept under on-going review. Properties deemed surplus to requirements are disposed of and the funding received supports ongoing investment to meet the equipment and infrastructure needs of the Defence Forces. Military barracks in Lifford, Rockhill (Letterkenny), Monaghan and Longford closed at the end of January 2009 within the timeframe outlined in the Budget. There has been ongoing investment in Defence Forces infrastructure.
Defence Forces Human Resources
The Minister was central to the Ombudsman for Defence Forces established and operating successfully. Paulyn Marrinann-Quinn was appointed in September 2005. The legislation establishing the Office became operative from 1st December 2005 in respect of complaints arising from actions that occurred after that date.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Monitoring Group's report, "Response to the Challenge of a Workplace", a review group was established in February 2008 to review progress within the Defence Forces since the publication of that report. The report of this Group, which was published in December 2008, included many recommendations to chart the way ahead in continuing to meet the demands for dignity and equality in the military workplace.
The report highlights the initiatives undertaken by the Defence Forces in the area of human resource management and workplace culture, most of which have come about in the period since Minister O'Dea became Minister for Defence in 2004. The Report confirms that the culture of the Defence Force organisation is evolving positively. It notes that organisational developments within the Permanent Defence Force since 2004 are a tribute to the vision and work of senior management and acknowledges the commitment and input of all personnel in effecting significant change.
I also want to refer to the recent work the Minister has done in overseeing the development of the Commissioning from the ranks programme both by way of the Cadet programme and internal commissioning from the ranks in June 2008.
Cash Escorts
In relation to cash escorts, a detailed agreement was reached with banks and signed by the Minister in May 2005. Banks are now paying the full cost of this service. Up to that point banks were paying €2.86 million per annum. This compares to €7.45 million received for 2008.
Overseas Peace Support
Ireland has a proud tradition of peacekeeping. Under Minister O'Dea, our Defence Forces have continued to successfully contribute to Overseas Peace Support Operations
For example, our Defence Forces have successfully participated in the Nordic Rapid Response / Battlegroup.
They undertook the most challenging mission to date in CHAD. This is testament to the improved capabilities that have been developed over recent years during the Minister's tenure. It should also be noted that Troops personal equipment compares favourably with that of countries with much higher Defence expenditure.
Medical Corps
The Minister has also commissioned a major review of the provision of medical services in the Defence Forces. Implementation of the PA Consulting recommendations is progressing. A dedicated Programme Group is co-ordinating completion of a range of projects recommended by PA. It is expected that substantial progress will be made over the coming months in implementing those recommendations.
Fine Gael's Lack of Defence Policy
In highlighting the Minister's achievement and his ongoing programme of work, it is worth considering that Fine Gael, through its Defence spokesman, has only suggested three policy differences between it and the Government on Defence Policy over the past two years. (Or four if you include Enda Kenny's own bizarre idea of Army run boot camps in the run up to the 2007 election).
1. The Triple Lock. Unlike the other main political parties, - Fianna Fail, Labour, the Greens, the key independents - Fine Gael are committed to abandoning the letter and the spirit of the triple lock of Government, Dáil and UN approval before Irish Troops serve overseas.
2. Army instructors in Schools.The idea most consistently pursued by Fine Gael is to have the Army Drill and fitness instructors deployed in schools to teach PE.
3. The New Zealand model. Fine Gael's suggestion that we replicate the New Zealandmodel of Defence Force administration would require us to more than double the number of people working in Defence administration from just over 600 to over 1400.
Conclusion
It is clear that Fine Gael have little to contribute to discourse on Defence policy. Their approach is to try and drag the Minister down and inflict whatever damage they can on the Government to disguise from their own lack of ideas and policy. This Government is not going to bow to those cheap tactics. We have full confidence in the Minister for Defence and we look forward to him continuing to serve the Government and the people.