Parliamentary questions

314. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if an emergency service (details supplied) was used as part of an operation; the reason this was used; the reason another service was not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40800/25]

315. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total spend by his Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if he will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/25]

316. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by his Department and agencies under its aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40876/25]

317. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide the total number of grant payments issued by the Department in each of the past five years, along with the total value of those grant payments for each year, in tabular form; and to confirm whether these figures include all schemes and discretionary grant programmes administered directly by the Department or through it…

318. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to respond to concerns about the closure of a consultation on maritime security strategy (details supplied). [41199/25]

319. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the mechanisms that are in place to support veteran groups of the Defence Forces situated in the North, particularly around commemorations and acts of remembrance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41217/25]

320. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence considering that the Government have significantly increased the Defence Forces budget, the procedures he intends to put in place to ensure Ireland's defence procurement spend stays within the Irish economy, benefitting our indigenous SMEs and research sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41293/25]

321. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the percentage of the current defence procurement spend that goes to indigenous Irish companies, research sectors and universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41294/25]

322. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence considering Ireland's recent commitment to joining the EU’S SAFE Mechanism for defence procurement, what the Minister will do to ensure the Irish economy and research sector will benefit from this increased spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41295/25]

323. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how he plans to ensure that Ireland's defence procurement process will align with the EU’s SAFE mechanism to ensure a fast and efficient procurement process for the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41296/25]

324. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what he believes the economic benefits to the Irish economy will be by signing up to the EU’s SAFE Mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41388/25]

325. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the way in which Ireland's university research sector can benefit as a result of signing up to the EU’s SAFE Mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41389/25]

326. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which he will ensure that current procurement process and guidelines for the Defence Forces will not hinder the quick and efficient implementation of both LOA2 and LOA3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41390/25]

327. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if all external legal fees incurred by his Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41500/25]

328. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41518/25]

329. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to detail the procurement processes used when engaging external legal firms and barristers, including whether panels are used; how often these are refreshed; the criteria used for selection and performance review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41536/25]

330. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has conducted any audits or reviews in the past five years on legal fee spend; if so, to publish the findings or summaries of those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41554/25]

331. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the internal oversight that exists within his Department to monitor the scope, duration, and cost escalation of legal services once engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41572/25]

332. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department makes use of capped fee arrangements, fixed-fee briefs, success-based fee models or other such arrangements in its legal engagements; if not, the reason such options are not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41590/25]

333. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41608/25]

334. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding the development of a naval base in Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41781/25]

335. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding any initiatives that seeks to encourage both recruitment and retention of personnel in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41782/25]

336. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41783/25]

337. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the proposed increase in defence spending over the next five years, particularly in view of the recent commitment by many European countries to significantly increase their defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41784/25]

338. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of occasions Ministers for Defence have visited Casement Aerodrome since 2020, in tabular form; and when he intends to visit Baldonnel Aerodrome. [41816/25]