O'Dea Releases The Defence Forces Annual Report Onboard The LÉ Eithne

According to the report, the Defence department achieved many of its key goals for 2006, including the passage of legislative changes required to allow the Irish Defence Forces to operate as part of the new European Union Battlegroups.

Major equipment purchased in 2006 included the first two medium-lift AW139 helicopters for the Air Corps - with a further two due for delivery in 2007 and in December 2006 an option in the contract to purchase an additional two (bringing a total of six) was exercised; 2006 also saw the delivery of range of other equipment such as the 6 new field deployable command post containers; the 8,000 new body armour units and the 400 general purpose machine guns.

The report also noted that 826 Defence Force personnel were serving overseas at the year's end - the highest number for several years, while 2,500 military personnel participated in the commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Both the parade and other associated events generated great public approval and support.

A Bill to amend the Defence Act (Part V) was published and enacted earlier this year which brought Irish military law into line with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Office of the Defence Forces Ombudsman was also established.

Speaking on board the LÉ Eithne, Minister O'Dea said, "I believe it is our duty to outline to the general public in clear and unambiguous terms what we are achieving with the funding allocated to Defence.

"I am very proud of the work achieved in Defence during 2006.

"The Defence Forces continues to be significantly modernised and improved," he continued.

Highlighting some of the new tasks allocated to the Defence Forces, he noted that,

"The recent seizure of drugs off the Co. Cork coast has received a great deal of media and public attention.

"I am glad to confirm that the Naval Service will continue to support the work of the Garda Siochána and the Customs & Excise who have the primary responsibility in this area."

With regard to recruitment in the Defence Forces Minister O'Dea announced that he has requested the Chief of Staff to review recruitment into the Defence Forces at all levels and to implement changes that would facilitate recruitment from among cultural and ethnic minorities in order to reflect the significant broadening of cultural diversity in Ireland in recent years.