Gerard P. Craughwell criticises government defence spending claims
Gerard P. Craughwell criticised a government press release on defence spending, arguing it repackaged previously contracted items and lacked transparency. He warned of capability and training gaps following the 2012 disbandment of the ground-to-air battery and questioned the timing of a €100 million government jet delivery.
He said the government's announcement followed public comments from the Governor of the Central Bank and Danny McCoy of IBEC, but that much of the package had already been reported. Craughwell cited four helicopters contracted in January of last year, sonar that is already contracted, and a primary radar promised three years earlier, noting references to January 25, June 25 and two years ago in past reporting.
He highlighted that 19 million for anti-drone systems is due to be delivered in the middle of next year and asked how long it will take to train personnel, where they will be trained and who will provide the training. He warned the forthcoming EU presidency in the middle of next year makes those timing and training questions urgent, particularly after the 2012 disbandment of the ground-to-air battery and the loss of related expertise.
Craughwell said a €100 million government jet has been test flown in the United States, painted in Air Corps colours and is expected to be delivered before Christmas. While he accepted the need for a government jet and for ministers to travel and for extraction capabilities, he pressed for honesty from the government and criticised what he described as opaque messaging.
He concluded by saying business communities are increasingly concerned about how defence and security are being managed, and expressed frustration at repeated messaging that he believes understates previous contracts and readiness gaps.
Recycled announcements
He said the government's announcement followed public comments from the Governor of the Central Bank and Danny McCoy of IBEC, but that much of the package had already been reported. Craughwell cited four helicopters contracted in January of last year, sonar that is already contracted, and a primary radar promised three years earlier, noting references to January 25, June 25 and two years ago in past reporting.
Timelines and training concerns
He highlighted that 19 million for anti-drone systems is due to be delivered in the middle of next year and asked how long it will take to train personnel, where they will be trained and who will provide the training. He warned the forthcoming EU presidency in the middle of next year makes those timing and training questions urgent, particularly after the 2012 disbandment of the ground-to-air battery and the loss of related expertise.
Government jet and transparency
Craughwell said a €100 million government jet has been test flown in the United States, painted in Air Corps colours and is expected to be delivered before Christmas. While he accepted the need for a government jet and for ministers to travel and for extraction capabilities, he pressed for honesty from the government and criticised what he described as opaque messaging.
Business community reaction
He concluded by saying business communities are increasingly concerned about how defence and security are being managed, and expressed frustration at repeated messaging that he believes understates previous contracts and readiness gaps.
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Transcript
I sound like a broken record when I come in here these days. Yesterday the Governor of the Central Bank, or last night, he added his voice to the voice of Danny McCoy from IBEC on the need for spending in defence. And immediately after that we find the Government release a press statement to the Irish Times five hours ago to RTE, where they outline that Minister McIntyre is about to announce £1.7 billion in spending for defence. And you would welcome that until you read down through the article and you find that they mention four helicopters. The four helicopters were contracted in January of last year. They mentioned sonar. Sonar is already contracted. They mentioned the primary radar. Primary radar we were promised three years ago and I understand that that is also advanced. Why are the Government advancing as new news something they have reported already? January 25, June 25 and two years ago for the primary radar. 19 million they say for anti-drone, which will be delivered in the middle of next year. Has anybody realised that we actually take over the presidency of the EU in the middle of next year? How long does it take to train people to use this equipment? Where will they train? Who will train them? We disbanded the ground-to-air battery in 2012. So we don't have the expertise there as far as I know. Now we really have to start being honest with the people. I wonder was this press release issued now to mask the €100 million government jet that will be delivered before Christmas. It has been test flown, I understand, in the States at the moment and has been painted in the colours of the air corps. Don't get me wrong. We need a government jet. We need a way to extract citizens from dangerous parts of the world. And certainly we do need senior ministers to be able to travel on government jets. I have no difficulty with that whatsoever. But once again, why can't we be honest? Why can't we come straight out and tell people the truth and stop the goddamn messing? It really is becoming very annoying. And apart from that, our business communities now are becoming extremely concerned at the way in which defence and security is being managed. Thank you.