Parliamentary questions

163. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence when she expects the permanent Defence Forces to attain the agreed establishment strength of 9,739; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53697/26]

164. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if there are plans for a public commemoration ceremony to mark the end of the UNIFIL mission given its pre-eminence in terms of Irish involvement with UN peacekeeping due to the number of personnel who have served in Lebanon since Ireland’s first involvement almost a half century ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53954/26]

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on the planned €400 million investment in Defence Forces infrastructure under the revised NDP. [53895/26]

166. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence her plans to improve the quality and collection of statistics relating to Defence Forces recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54105/26]

167. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the defunct, unused or surplus military equipment that has been offered to the Ukrainian authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53649/26]

168. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence for a report on the proposed new military equipment store, locker block and ablution facility at Stephens Barracks. [53703/26]

169. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence if all Defence Forces personnel placed on-call for duty during the EU Presidency will be paid promptly. [54134/26]

170. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Defence the measures currently being considered to improve pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces, with particular regard to recruitment, retention and the overall attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces. [53652/26]

171. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the permanent Defence Forces by, Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53695/26]

172. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Defence the action being taken to increase recruitment to the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54131/26]

173. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the progress on the development of Ireland’s anti-drone defence capabilities. [53709/26]

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence when the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be brought before Dail Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53647/26]

175. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have the capacity needed to maintain continuous surveillance of vessels operating near critical subsea infrastructure during the EU Presidency period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54034/26]

176. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the development and implementation of the Baldonnel Masterplan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53960/26]

177. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence if an assessment was carried out as to the operational readiness of light tactical armoured vehicles before they were offered to Ukraine; if so, the results of this assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54226/26]

178. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence for a report on the establishment of a defence attaché network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53698/26]

179. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently deployed on overseas peacekeeping and peace support missions, broken down by mission; the scheduled end date of each deployment or mandate; the number of personnel she expects will be deployed overseas by 31 December 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54045/26]

180. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on any co-operation between the Defence Forces at Aiken Barracks and Dundalk Institute of Technology with regard to upskilling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53742/26]

181. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Defence the measures her Department is taking to improve access to mental health and wellbeing supports for current and former Defence Forces personnel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53693/26]

182. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on the Commission on Defence Forces recommendation to clarify the roles of the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Defence Forces’ ARW to ensure that there is a clear understanding of how they would interact in an operational situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53958/26]

183. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department is taking the use of battle testing of military technology in Gaza into account in defence procurement processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54104/26]

184. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Defence the action being taken to increase retention levels in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54132/26]

185. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if changes to the triple lock mechanism will include a provision that troops can be sent abroad in accordance with the articles of the UN charter and military neutrality and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53908/26]

186. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence to outline the defensive drone capacity of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54267/26]

187. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Defence the role of the Naval Service in protecting undersea telecommunications and energy cables and other critical maritime infrastructure within Ireland’s maritime area; the capabilities currently available to the Naval Service to carry out this role; whether there are plans to enhance those capabilities; and if she will make a statement on the …