Parliamentary questions

75. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to increase cadet pay above minimum wage, and to at least that of all other trainees in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59617/25]

76. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department plans to avail of SAFE funding; the guarantees his Department has sought to ensure any joint procurement for the Defence Forces under SAFE will not involve the purchase of cluster munitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60395/25]

172. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects local bargaining 1% adjustments to be approved and to commence in the defence sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60512/25]

173. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Forces are developing their unmanned aerial systems capability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60513/25]

174. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress his Department has made regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60523/25]

175. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the supports available to Defence Forces personnel who are being discharged on medical grounds, particularly in cases involving long-term illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56896/25]

64. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of the Technology Strategy and Roadmap for the Department of Defence; the expected costs of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60237/25]

65. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount of funding allocated to Defence Forces infrastructure in each of the past five years; the number of projects completed; the number underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60238/25]

66. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans for capital expenditure within his Department under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60321/25]

67. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of vacancies within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60331/25]

68. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Departments plans to increase its headcount in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60332/25]

69. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the planned recruitment within the Defence Forces for the years 2026-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60333/25]

70. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the rationale for the decision to withdraw Defence Forces personnel from the MINURSO UN peacekeeping mission; whether there are any plans for Ireland to participate in that mission in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60369/25]

71. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the Government’s current strategy for aligning Irish defence and maritime security policy with its international obligations, ensuring that infrastructure in Cork including marine cables, ports, ship-yards is resilient in the face of hybrid threats; and the strategy for communicating clearly to citizens and businesses how this evol…

72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to improve recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces in light of the €145 million increase in defence funding in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60423/25]

73. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which the Reserve Defence Forces will benefit from the increased financial support provided in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60424/25]

74. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the supports and funding for Defence Force veterans and their dependents as outlined in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60425/25]

75. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the role the Defence Forces will play in supporting EU defence cooperation initiatives during Ireland’s presidency of the council of the European Union in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60426/25]

234. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of an air ambulance base (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58048/25]

235. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department and bodies under his aegis have made tax settlements with the Revenue Commissioners in the past five years to date; and if so, the amount in each case. [58453/25]

236. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of employees currently in his Department; the number of staff per year each year since 2015, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58489/25]

237. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of employees in each of the agencies under his Department's remit; the number employed per year each year since 2015, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58507/25]

238. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on when the ordnance cadetship competition is expected to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58558/25]

239. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of ordnance cadetship posts that were allocated in each of the years 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [58559/25]

240. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if unconscious bias training, quotas or participation targets relating to race, gender, ethnicity or religious status are in place for any activities or in recruitment for the Defence Forces. [58638/25]