Questions

184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the projected decline in NORA levy income over the next five-ten years as fossil fuel consumption falls in line with net-zero targets; and if he will outline the contingency plans to maintain Ireland's 90-day oil reserve obligation without imposing higher costs on fuel users or further transfers from the levy to the Climate Action Fund…

185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide the latest assessment of Ireland's gas supply security given that NORA holds no strategic gas reserves; and whether the Government will now reconsider its moratorium on gas exploration in order to develop indigenous sources and reduce vulnerability to international price volatility and supply disruptions. [35981/26]

186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to evidence given to the Committee of Public Accounts on 7 May 2026 that storage costs account for 90% of NORA's €42 million operating expenditure, whether he is satisfied with the value for money achieved in current contracts, including those for off-island storage; and if he will confirm plans to increase on-island storage ca…

187. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason the Government reduced the NORA levy to 0.1 cent per litre in recent years for price relief yet continues to support policies that block domestic oil and gas exploration, thereby perpetuating Ireland's dependence on imported petroleum products and the associated levy costs passed on to motorists, farmers and hauliers. [35983…

188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the additional administration costs to NORA of implementing the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation and ReFuelEU Aviation regulations; and whether he accepts that these obligations, combined with the existing NORA levy, represent a double burden on consumers that could be mitigated by permitting greater domestic oil and gas production…

189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will publish the criteria used to award NORA storage contracts and the savings achieved by competitive bidding; and whether the Government has conducted any analysis of the potential reduction in NORA's storage expenditure that could be achieved if Ireland developed its own indigenous oil and gas resources instead of relying on f…

190. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to the Committee of Public Accounts hearing on 7 May 2026 regarding NORA's role in energy security, whether he will now bring forward a comprehensive policy statement confirming that the development of Ireland's oil and gas resources is essential to maintaining strategic reserves, lowering the levy burden and ensuring long-term…

191. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a copy of the recent correspondence issued by the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to his Department referred to in media reports (details supplied); if he will provide details of the percentage reduction(s) in spending in his Department referenced in the correspondence; and if he w…

192. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of spending on advertising that was funded or overseen by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in each of the past five years, including a breakdown by medium, that is, radio, television and social media, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/26]

193. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence if her Department or any bodies and agencies under its aegis use, or have in the past used, software and-or products from a company (details supplied); the duration and cost of the contract; and the services they avail of from the company. [35862/26]

194. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number of retired Defence Force personnel who currently have their pension entitlement abated due to being employed in other sectors of the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35906/26]

195. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the proposed procurement of medium-lift or super medium-lift helicopters as recommended by the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; whether a procurement process has commenced or is planned; the estimated timeline for any such acquisition programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36007/26]

196. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters is intended by the Department to satisfy, replace, defer, or partially fulfil the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces relating to medium-lift helicopter capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36008/26]

197. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether alternative rotary-wing aircraft platforms, including lower-cost light utility helicopter configurations, were evaluated during the procurement process for the four Airbus H145 helicopters; whether comparative operational, training, maintenance, lifecycle, and value-for-money assessments were conducted between aircraft categories; and if she will make a s…

198. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the primary operational rationale underpinning the selection of the Airbus H145 platform for the Air Corps; whether the procurement was principally intended to address pilot training, utility transport, air ambulance support, tactical deployment, maritime support, or multi-role operational capability requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

199. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted comparing the acquisition of a smaller number of higher-capability helicopters versus a larger number of lower-cost rotary-wing aircraft for Air Corps operational and training requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36016/26]

200. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Department conducted a formal operational requirements analysis prior to the acquisition of the Airbus H145 helicopters for the Air Corps; whether alternative aircraft categories or configurations were assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36212/26]

201. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the lifecycle operating costs, maintenance costs, and projected service-life costs associated with the Airbus H145 helicopters were independently assessed prior to procurement approval; whether comparative modelling was undertaken against alternative rotary-wing platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36213/26]

202. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government considered the acquisition of a larger number of lower-cost helicopters in place of a smaller number of higher-capability aircraft for pilot training, utility support, and general Air Corps operational requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36214/26]

203. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the acquisition of the Airbus H145 helicopters forms part of a wider long-term rotary-wing fleet modernisation strategy for the Air Corps; whether additional helicopter acquisitions remain planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36215/26]

204. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has conducted any assessment of the strategic implications arising from dependence upon foreign-origin mission systems, avionics, software, or specialist operational components in relation to the Airbus H145 fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36216/26]

205. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Airbus H145 helicopters procured for the Air Corps are intended solely for pilot training and utility support purposes, or whether the aircraft are also intended for operational, tactical, security, force-protection, or armed support roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36217/26]

206. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any weapons systems, weapons mounts, weapons integration capability, force-protection systems, or armed operational configurations have been procured, approved, planned, or considered in connection with the Airbus H145 helicopters acquired for the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36218/26]

207. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether Cabinet approval was specifically sought in relation to any armed operational capability, weapons integration capability, or tactical mission configuration associated with the Airbus H145 helicopters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36219/26]

208. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has developed an operational doctrine, mission profile framework, or strategic capability assessment relating to the intended operational use of the Airbus H145 helicopters within the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36220/26]