Defence Forces personnel on standby

ARMY:DEFENCE FORCES personnel have been put on standby at 17 barracks across the country to help local authorities in the freezing weather conditions.

The move was announced by Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea yesterday afternoon and followed criticism from members of the Opposition that troops had not been mobilised.

Mr O’Dea contacted senior military officials yesterday and informed them that all brigades were to be put on standby to meet any requests for assistance.

“The Defence Forces can assist with general emergency transportation of foodstuffs, medicines, goods and personnel,” he said.

The Defence Forces had more than 3,000 drivers and up to 800 vehicles, including 4x4 ambulances, and were “equipped to assist should the local authorities request assistance”. It was now the responsibility of local authorities to request assistance.

Last night only Kildare County Council had requested assistance. When troops went to Newbridge yesterday evening to help council workers clear roads they were not needed and returned to barracks.

The Defence Forces said liaison officers have been appointed at barracks to deal with authorities.

Six Air Corps helicopters and crew were also on standby. They had already undertaken two air ambulance missions transporting neonatal patients to Crumlin hospital, Dublin.

The decision to put the Defence Forces on standby was taken after a meeting yesterday of the Government’s Inter-departmental Co-ordinating Group. Fine Gael’s spokesman on defence Jimmy Deenihan said he had called on the Government on Tuesday to mobilise the Defence Forces. Yesterday’s meeting of the co-ordinating group was a “needless delay”.