Barrett provokes dispute in remarks on delayed Price Waterhouse report

REMARKS made in the Dail this week about the management consultancy firm, Price Waterhouse, have provoked a dispute within a Government steering group.

The Minister for Defence and the Marine, Mr Barrett, referred to a delayed review of the Air Corps and Naval Service in response to questions from Fianna Fail. He said the Government steering group handling the review was "not satisfied" the consultants had complied with the original terms of reference.

The Minister said he had "no control over the consultants" or the draft report - which had not been "shelved", the Minister told the Fianna Fail defence and marine spokesman, Mr Michael Smith. But it required "further work" to ensure the terms of reference were fully addressed".

The Department of Defence issued a statement to The Irish Times yesterday denying that the Minister was unhappy with the consultants which delivered the £140,000 review earlier this year.

The civilian and military representatives on the Government steering group handling the review had felt several issues needed "further attention" when the draft report was produced, a Department spokesman said. The consultants required "a bit more time to sort out these issues".

The Minister's remarks are understood to have exacerbated tensions within the steering group, which is chaired by Mr Patrick Teahon, secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach.

Some members are unhappy with the draft report and want to extend the terms of reference. But there are fears that any boost to the Air Corps or Naval Service will be at the expense of the Army.

The review of the Air Corps and Naval Service was commissioned last June by the Efficiency Audit Group on the Defence Forces.

The report was expected by November and was to be published by the end of the year. But the terms of reference drawn up for Price Waterhouse related to numbers and deployment of personnel, taking no account of moves related to the changing role in search and rescue, drug interdiction and fishery protection.

The firm is understood to have made this point when it recommended increased personnel for both wings at executive level.

A stand off then emerged within the steering group over whether the terms of reference should be extended. It is understood the consultants may be given this extended mandate today. A final report is expected next month.