Parliamentary questions

230. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Defence if she will confirm that adequate planning, advance notice and operational coordination have been provided to the Defence Forces in respect of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency; if she is satisfied that sufficient personnel, funding and logistical resources will be in place to support all related security and ceremonial requirements; and if …

231. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the way her Department will close the gap between the current strength of the Defence Forces and the establishment strength of the Defence Forces, with a 2000 personnel shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12526/26]

232. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to increase the Reserve Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12456/26]

233. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on her engagements with regard to the impact the proposed removal of the triple lock neutrality protection will have on Irish neutrality. [12475/26]

331. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the steps her Department is taking to ensure we have the capacity to deploy anti drone defences outside Baldonnel airfield; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12888/26]

332. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent by her Department on funding NGOs, by organisation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11794/26]

333. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent on funding NGOs by her Department, in each of the years since 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11812/26]

334. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the assessments that are carried out to determine the level of Exchequer funding that any NGO receives from her Department on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11830/26]

335. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding any direct lobbying she has received from any NGO in relation to her annual funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11852/26]

336. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the systems in place to agree performance metrics of Chief Executives of agencies within the aegis of her Department; the way in which these are measured; the person or body that carries out the assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11955/26]

337. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the up-to-date position on the UN investigation of a recent suspect chemical substance release near the Blue Line Demarcation; if any risk has been identified by the UN to Irish peacekeeping troops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12006/26]

338. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the procurement of additional assets for the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12444/26]

339. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence to list, for each of the last 20 years, the size of each of the branches of the Defence Forces. [12450/26]

340. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces in last 50 years and the reason it has changed to its current figure. [12451/26]

341. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence her views on the way in which Ireland can combat shadow fleet ships in its Exclusive Economic Zone, considering the significant potential for devastating environmental incidents if these ships sank. [1754/26]

342. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if she will commit to not bringing bring forward legalisation to abolish the triple lock until it has first been put to a referendum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8643/26]

343. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Defence if she will consider reducing height restrictions for the Irish Army; the number of persons who have been refused in each of the years 2019 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12177/26]

344. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the delivery of the new integrated monitoring and surveillance system, including radar upgrades across maritime, land and air domains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12807/26]

345. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the way the recommendations of the independent review group and the Commission on the Defence Forces are being implemented, including reforms to leadership structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12808/26]

346. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Permanent Defence Forces, disaggregated by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service; the establishment strength for each branch; the projected strength for end-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12909/26]

347. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have left the Naval Service in each of the past three years; the number recruited during the same period; the current number of vessels operational and fully crewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12910/26]

348. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the current operational status of Collins Barracks, Cork, including the number of personnel assigned; any vacancies; planned capital investment in infrastructure at the barracks; the timeframe for delivery of any such works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12911/26]

349. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the status of the Reserve Defence Force in Cork, including numbers attached to units in the Southern Brigade; the level of training days completed in 2024 and 2025; whether additional supports are planned to improve recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12912/26]

350. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces relating to pay reform, career progression and specialist allowances; the measurable impact these measures have had on retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12913/26]

351. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the current capability of the Defence Forces to respond to unauthorised drone activity over critical infrastructure, including ports, energy installations and airports in Cork; whether counter-drone technology has been procured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12914/26]