Parliamentary questions

106. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department or the military authorities have assessed the impact of current staffing shortfalls on operational capacity within the Air Corps, including any effect on mission availability, response times or service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32881/26]

107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of Air Corps operations, missions or taskings that have been delayed, curtailed or cancelled due to staffing shortages or maintenance capacity constraints in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32882/26]

108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a workforce gap analysis has been undertaken in respect of aircraft maintenance and technical personnel within the Air Corps; if so, to provide the findings and any identified shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32883/26]

109. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on the status of backdated allowances owed to members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW); to specify the total amount of arrears currently outstanding; the timeline for the resolution of these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33170/26]

110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the reason her Department has reportedly refused to pay ARW arrears incurred between 2006 and 2018 despite the awarding of these payments; the number of current and former personnel affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33171/26]

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if any confidential or secret deal regarding pay or allowances was reached with a specific group of personnel within the Air Corps / Fire Service at Casement Aerodrome; if these agreements were made outside of the standard Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme to ensure the continued operation of the airfield; and if she will disclos…

112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of allegations that a 'secret deal' was reached with three individuals in the Air Corps Fire Service following threats to cease operations at the aerodrome ; if she will explain the reason such an arrangement would be implemented. [33173/26]

113. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) recommendation regarding the introduction of long service increments for enlisted personnel; if she will explain the reason this measure remains under 'further evaluation' since July 2022 despite the ongoing retention crisis; and if she will commit to an immediate implementati…

114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence to state her Department's position on the payment of five-figure arrears owed to serving and retired members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) and Defence Forces Chefs arising from historical allowance agreements; the reason these payments are being withheld from retired veterans who served during the relevant periods; the impact this perceived …

115. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has sought legal advice on its compliance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991 regarding the non-payment of agreed allowances; if she acknowledges that allowances are defined as 'wages' under Section 1 of the Act and cannot be deducted or withheld without statutory basis; and if she will address the inconsistency of these deb…

116. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Carlow in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33342/26]

117. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence to provide a detailed breakdown of all gifts received in her capacity as Minister; the nature of these gifts and potential monetary value; the procedures followed in accepting gifts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33377/26]

118. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces that are currently on active peace keeping missions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33428/26]

119. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Kilkenny in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33459/26]

212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the mandate of Ireland's participation in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in the Lebanon; her views on whether the mission has succeeded in any of its aims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31709/26]

213. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update in respect of integrating strategic risk systems in the context of enhancing the robustness of critical entities. [31745/26]

214. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence given that the new strategic reach Falcon 6x jet comes fitted as standard with a heads up display and enhanced vision system as part of the Dassault FalconEye System, and that these components are manufactured by an Israeli firm, if she can confirm that all or any of these Israeli components were removed from the aircraft; the cost to the taxpaye…

215. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details on the hiring processes of the armed forces which ensure vulnerable peoples are not put at risk at any stage of the process; and that safeguarding procedures are in place. [31780/26]

216. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has purchased weapons classified as dual-use goods; and to provide a breakdown of the use of these goods in either a military or non-military capacity within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31781/26]

217. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of trained pilots, aircrew and technical staff assigned to each aircraft type within the Air Corps; and the current vacancy rates. [31804/26]

218. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if there are plans to put out a tender seeking expression of interest from companies worldwide regarding the replacement of naval ship LE Niamh. [31805/26]

32. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if she will consider allowing people who have moved to Ireland under an EU Directive (details supplied) to join the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31068/26]

33. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under her remit with the increased costs of employing staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31357/26]

34. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under her remit to manage the increase in the minimum wages in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31375/26]

35. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under her remit to manage increasing operating costs including insurance, energy and fuel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31393/26]