Parliamentary questions

186. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he could provide an update on progress with the recommendations from the report of the Commission on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6138/25]

187. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what the benefits are of getting rid of the triple lock for military involvement in operations abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6139/25]

188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide details of the empty buildings, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain empty; and the physical status of each building, in tabular form. [6226/25]

189. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide details of undeveloped sites, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain undeveloped; and the reason for the lack of development, in tabular form. [6244/25]

190. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of vacant engineer room artificer technicians currently in the Naval Service; and when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [6289/25]

191. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on any progress by military authorities in their consideration of the report and recommendations of the Defence Forces Colour Vision Working Group on colour vision requirements for entry to the Defence Forces; when he will publish this report; and when the recommendations will be implemented. [6296/25]

192. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; if any section of his Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if he has consulted with …

127. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether officials from his Department have met with lobbyists from the arms industry in the past 12 months; the dates and attendees of these meetings; the agenda of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5450/25]

100. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the annual payment by his Department to the climate action fund scheme, as required by virtue Circular 01/2020 (D/PER), broken down by trip, in each of the past five years and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [4951/25]

105. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to publish the ministerial brief he received on commencing his role; and when and by what means it will be published. [4087/25]

106. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position of a facility (details supplied); the plans for the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4232/25]

107. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if, following an investment of €230 million on two Airbus 295 Maritime surveillance aircraft delivered in June and October 2023, he will provide a detailed explanation on the terms ‘IOC’ and ‘FOC’, their sub levels and what they mean in terms of the capability of the aircraft; if FOC has been reached; and if not, the reason therefor.…

108. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how missions and flying hours completed by the Air Corps in support of the wider Defence Forces are accounted for; the reason these statistics are not reported on in the Defence Forces annual report; and if, with the introduction next year of a transport variant of the Airbus 295, the flying hours completed by this aircraft in suppor…

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence in respect of each Bill for which his Department had responsibility and that was initiated in 2024, or that was enacted in 2024, to specify in which House of the Oireachtas the Bill was initiated; the number of ministerial or Government amendments submitted at each legislative Stage of the Bill; if the guillotine was used o…

110. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he intends to continue to exclude Israel from tenders for military equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4266/25]

111. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure, size, and numbers recruited and who left each branch of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces in the years 2019 to date, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4267/25]

112. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of ships the Naval Service can currently simultaneously put to sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4268/25]

113. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service patrol days scheduled, cancelled, and which took place in the years 2019 to date, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4269/25]

114. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Naval Service vessels have been put to sea with non-functioning main guns; if so, the manner in which such occurred; his response to such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4270/25]

115. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to the commitment of his predecessor that Ireland would not be procuring military equipment or defence equipment from Israel, if he is aware that various aircraft purchased by the Defence Forces in recent months contain Israeli components; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4271/25]

116. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the basis on which engagements with lobbyists for international arms manufacturers are reportedly kept confidential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4272/25]

117. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the Defence Forces purchase orders for 2024, by quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4273/25]

118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General of his Department; whether this scale has changed in the past year; whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/25]

119. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a schedule of expenditure relating to IT external service provision in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, including the company name and amount expended with them, in tabular form. [4468/25]

120. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he or any of his officials or Army officers received a request or discussed with ESB Networks managers the option or possibility of assistance by Óglaigh na hÉireann in the aftermath of the recent Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4553/25]