Parliamentary questions

455. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by her Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the ma…

456. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether her Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2089/26]

457. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2107/26]

458. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving her Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of her Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2125/26]

459. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if her Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2243/26]

460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence whether any agencies or other bodies under her remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2261/26]

461. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence to seek a detailed explanation for the delays with sending a Redress of Wrongs dated 22 July 2021 to the Workplace Commission by the Defence Forces with regard to discrimination. [2275/26]

462. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence if discrimination against primary carers within the Defence Forces has ceased as per the recommendations within the Commission on Defence report of 13 July 2022. [2276/26]

463. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence as part of culture changes within the Defence Forces the substantial changes across HR structures their fare or primary carers within the Defence Forces; and how primary carers are considered with regard to career progression and equality within the Defence Forces. [2277/26]

464. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces is addressing and accepting primary carers within the Defence Forces and engaging with families with caring responsibilities. [2278/26]

465. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence if she and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces are willing to meet a family (details supplied). [2279/26]

466. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Department’s input to the development of the national security strategy; when the strategy is likely to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2394/26]

467. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on the purchasing of counter unmanned aerial system equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2396/26]

468. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence the way in which her Department publishes calls for companies to express an interest in supplying military equipment to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2397/26]

469. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Finland on defence co-operation; the plans for a formal working group to be established to discuss potential areas of collaboration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2398/26]

470. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence her plans to publish the National Defence Procurement Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2399/26]

471. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence to provide a list of the top ten capital or programme projects delivered by her Department or its agencies over the past three years which were completed on time and within the originally approved budget; the project name, location, delivery timeframe, original approved budget, final outturn cost, and delivery body, for each project; and i…

472. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence to detail the annual spend on external consultants by her Department and its agencies in each of the past three years; the number of consultancy contracts, the largest individual consultancy engagements by value, and whether internal capacity-building or cost-benefit assessments were undertaken prior to engaging external consultants; and i…

473. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence to provide a list, for each of the past three years of the top ten projects per annum delivered by her Department or its agencies which were completed late and over the originally approved budget; the project name, location, original approved completion date, actual completion date, original approved budget, final outturn cost, cost overru…

474. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Defence if the security duty allowance will be paid to Irish Reservists for all activities undertaken during the Irish presidency of the EU. [2502/26]

475. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Defence if the security duty allowance will be paid to Irish Reservists for activities whether classified as training or operational undertaken during the Irish presidency of the EU. [2503/26]

476. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Defence if a review of the security duty allowance will be undertaken to ensure Irish Reservists receive appropriate renumeration for all activities during the Irish presidency of the EU. [2504/26]

303. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the nature of refurbishment works carried out at Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny, in the years 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if each capital works project is completed or still ongoing at present; and the new refurbishment works that will commence during the first half of 2026 at these barracks. [73321/25]

304. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of current members of the Reserve Defence Force; the measures she has put in place to attract new members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73352/25]

305. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Reserve Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73614/25]