Thomas Gould
Question:
63. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any members of the Defence Forces in Lebanon have had to pay for their own flights home in the past six months; the number of members to whom this applied; and whether these members were subsequently reimbursed. [38942/24]
View answer
The requested information has been sought from the Defence Forces but unfortunately cannot be gathered within the prescribed timeframe as it covers a number of Branches within the Defence Forces as well as the battalion currently stationed in UNIFIL. The Department and the Defence Forces will continue to gather this information, and will follow up with the Deputy in due course.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question and my original reply stating that it was not possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I wish to inform you that where leave from the mission area is not covered under the criteria set out in Administrative Instruction for travel at national expense, members of the Defence Forces must pay for their own flights. There are no provisions in the regulations for reimbursement.
Earlier this year however, I approved a management position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, including a number of health and safety protections for military activities, deemed outside the scope of the Directive, due to their nature.
As part of the additional health and safety protections to be provided to Defence Force Members, I have approved the provision one return commercial home-reunion flight to Ireland in respect of an operational tour of duty of six months, where the security assessment by the military authorities determines that the individual cannot avail of leave in-theatre. This protection will be introduced as part of the overall Working Time Directive implementation package.
Officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working to develop the appropriate legislative mechanism to bring the Defence Forces within the scope of the Act and are also engaging with the Office of the Attorney General on this matter. To this end, my colleague and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, is hopeful that a Statutory Instrument will be ready by the end of the year.
The Defence Forces have in addition provided me with information regarding flights borne at national expense, which you may find of assistance:
The following flights home for personnel serving in Lebanon were borne at national expense within the timeframe 01/4/24 to 09/10/24.
|
Compassionate
|
Medical
|
Admin
|
TOTAL
|
|
15
|
3
|
7
|
25
|
As per Defence Forces relevant Administrative Instruction, travel at national expense for personnel serving overseas is provided under the following conditions:
• Medical Examination (Deployments of two (2) years or longer).
• Family Visits or Family Reunion Travel (Deployments of two (2) years or longer).
• Travel to Ireland for other purposes – (interview, briefings, attendance at court cases)
• Travel for Mission related purposes.
• Travel on Compassionate Grounds while on Special Leave for the following:
• Attending the funeral of a parent, brother, sister, spouse or child.
• Visiting a parent, brother, sister, spouse or child who is critically injured or seriously ill.
• Attending the funeral of a relative who, prior to his/her death had been the sole surviving relative of a member of a national contingent.
• Visiting a critically injured or dangerously ill relative who is the sole surviving relative of a member of a national contingent.
• In exceptional circumstances and if the domestic situation is particularly challenging.
In addition to the above, provision also includes the following repatriation from the mission areas borne at Mission/National expense:
• Compassionate Grounds:
• Compelling cases of an exceptional nature.
• Medical Grounds:
• Unlikely to be fit for full duties within 30 days.
• Requirement for very serious and lengthy treatment that is not available in the mission area.
• Requirement for special treatment in a National Institution.
• Admin Grounds
• In the best interest of the mission effectiveness.
I trust that this information is of assistance to you.
