Ireland and UK Work Towards Normalization of Security Measures

UK Ministry of Defence, The first steps in moving the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland towards its eventual peacetime garrison were announced today, 1 August 2005, by the Ministry of Defence.  
 
Defence Secretary John Reid said:  
 
“I pay tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of all those Service men and women and civilians who have served in Northern Ireland over the past thirty-six years and I welcome the programme of security normalisation announced today by Peter Hain. The Armed Forces will continue to support the police for as long as the Chief Constable requires, but we also look forward to the time, now clearly in sight, when such support is no longer needed.  
 
“We will press on quickly with implementing normalisation measures on the ground now.”  
 
The eventual peacetime garrison will be no more than 5,000 Armed Forces Personnel who will be available for worldwide operations. A plan for the phased reduction of personnel will be published as soon as is practicable and further announcements will follow.  
 
The three Home Service battalions of The Royal Irish Regiment were raised to support the police in countering terrorism under Operation BANNER. When the police no longer require routine military support, Operation BANNER will end and with it the role of the Home Service battalions. There is no military requirement for such units after the end of Operation BANNER. The Government has therefore decided that they will disband at that point. Northern Ireland political parties have been asked for their views on how to address the implications of normalisation on the Royal Irish Home Service.  
 
The General Service Battalion (The 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment) and the Territorial Army element (The Royal Irish Rangers) which operate world-wide in the same way as any other units of the British Army, are unaffected and will carry on regimental traditions.  
 
General Sir Michael Walker, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Sir Kevin Tebbit, MOD Permanent Secretary, have issued a joint message to the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), Lt Gen Sir Reddy Watt. GOC(NI) has issued a message to the personnel under his command. These messages are below. http://www.defencetalk.com 
 
Message from the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Permanent Under Secretary to GOC (Northern Ireland)  
 
“Last week's announcements mark a key moment for Northern Ireland. We hope they herald a decisive move towards the peaceful and stable future that the Government has been working towards for all who live there. The community in Northern Ireland has been riven by strife for more than 30 years in what has become known as 'The Troubles'. During that time, many thousands of Servicemen and women and their civilian colleagues have helped the police to meet the challenges of terrorism and sectarian violence. The success of this support to the police, under Operation Banner, is to the credit of all. At times the toll has been painfully high and so we owe a considerable debt to all who have served for their fortitude, commitment and sacrifice.  
 
“There have already been considerable improvements in the security situation, and these have been reflected in the commitment of ever fewer forces to Northern Ireland. This has already allowed us to redirect people and resources to areas where they can be best used to ease other and future pressures on Defence. Continued progress remains vital to the transition to the Future Army Structure.  
 
“The Armed Forces will, of course, continue to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland for as long as is required but continuing improvements in the security situation will be the clearest possible signal that the assistance we have given during Operation Banner has been successful and is no longer needed. As the 2003 Joint Declaration made clear, a normal and peaceful society in Northern Ireland will require a fundamentally different type of Defence presence. We look to you, in close consultation with the Chief Constable of the PSNI, to ensure that the exceptional elements of the military presence are removed as soon as is practicable and in accordance with the commitments given by the Government.  
 
“We recognise it will not be easy to move from the current campaign organisation of some 10,500 troops and 3,500 civilians on 40 sites to the peacetime garrison envisioned in the Joint Declaration of no more than 5,000 military personnel in no more than 14 bases. Also, like the rest of the public sector, Defence needs to deliver improved working practices and continuing modernisation as we strive for greater efficiency. Planning and executing the necessary restructuring and redeployment will be a considerable body of work.  
 
We wish you, and all our people serving in Northern Ireland, every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead between now and the end of Operation Banner and promise you our continuing support.”  
 
 
Message from General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) to Military and MOD Civilian Personnel serving in Northern Ireland  
 
“Last week's announcements represent a further milestone in Northern Ireland's progress towards the peaceful and stable society that we all want to see. The Government has announced that it is now moving forward to begin normalisation as outlined in the Joint Declaration of 2003 and it has set out the planned normalisation programme, based on an enabling environment, in which a significant reduction in the security profile in Northern Ireland can take place. This programme will see Operation Banner end by 1 August 2007 assuming an enabling environment is maintained.  
 
“As the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Permanent Under Secretary have made clear, the Armed Forces will of course continue to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland for as long as is required. The threat from dissident republicans remains but the general improvement in the security environment and the increasing ability of the police to deal with the residual dissident threat without routine military support is the clearest signal that our role here is nearing completion.  
 
“As we go forward, it is important that we should not forget the past. Over the 35 years since the Armed Forces first deployed to Northern Ireland, thousands of Servicemen and women