The army is willing to help people living in Dublin's Ballymun flats by repairing their lifts if asked to do so, the Minister for Defence confirmed last night.
"Where people are undergoing significant and severe hardship, if we are in the position to assist, we are willing to do so", Mr Smith said. However, he pointed out that the Defence Forces did not wish to be seen as the "last resort" in disputes.
While the Defence Forces are an aid to the civil authority, a request for assistance would have to be made, the Minister said. This would have to be considered very carefully, given the Defence Forces' own requirements.
Earlier Mr John Lucey, secretary of PDFORRA, the soldiers' representative body, said that they were all for helping the community in Ballymun. However, it would be preferable if the protagonists resolved the dispute themselves.
"Our members have no desire to become involved in a trade union dispute", Mr Lucey said. "But we would be quite amenable to helping the community in Ballymun and are prepared to do what's necessary under the Defence Forces Act, if called upon."
In this event, the civil authority would be Dublin Corporation. If the corporation decided to ask for assistance, the request would probably go through the Department of the Environment.
Mr Smith's comments followed calls made to RTE Radio's Liveline programme yesterday afternoon. A number of listeners suggested to the programme presenter, Joe Duffy, that the Army should be called in to help the residents of the flats, particularly the elderly and young mothers, some of whom had to climb 13 storeys to get to their flats.
Callers pointed out that the Defence Forces had been called on in the past to assist during a lengthy bus dispute and again when there had been a refuse collection strike.
As an aid to the civil authority, Defence Forces personnel have a wide range of skills, including the electrical expertise needed to repair lifts.
About 6,000 tenants live in the 2,814 Ballymun flats. There are 73 lifts in the complex, but more than 60 of these are currently out of action.
