Search the record

structure to ensure democratic accountability on national security matters, and proper co-ordination between all Departments and between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. As Taoiseach, I will chair it, and also participating will be the Ministers for Justice and Foreign Affairs and Trade. The council will … Oireachtas role, but it would have to be predicated on confidentiality in terms of our engagement with An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. We do not have a tradition of that in our political system. We must consider the nature of modern threats. It is not project

expectancies. All new entrants to the public service hired after 1 January 2013 are members of this single scheme. Members of the Permanent Defence Force, firefighters, members of An Garda Síochána and prison officers are categorised as members of the uniformed accrual cohort of single scheme members … entitlement that they may have to the State contributory pension, which is administered by the Department of Social Protection. While members of the Defence Forces and other uniformed accrual members have mandatory retirement ages lower than the State pension contributory retirement age, they are still able to work

Networks, Uisce Éireann, Community Welfare Officers, Department of Social Protection staff and others, following Storm Éowyn, and this response, supported by the Defence Forces, Government agencies, Civil Defence and the Voluntary Emergency Services, working with community volunteers, non-governmental organisations and community organisations, is an example

This will support the provision of non-lethal military equipment in priority areas identified by Ukraine, for example non-lethal elements of air defence such as radar systems and anti-drone jamming devices. Ireland has committed approximately €250 million in non-lethal military support to Ukraine under … agreement at EU level, we have stepped up our bilateral support. Since the full-scale invasion, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have also provided non-lethal military equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces which include mine clearance flails, vehicles, body armour, ready-to-eat meals

presence of both Israeli and Hezbollah ground forces in the area and the exchange of airstrikes and missile attacks leave southern Lebanon very vulnerable to further conflict. I discussed the situation and these concerns with the Lebanese ministers for defence and foreign affairs during my visit to Lebanon … part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. I had the absolute honour to meet those 339 women and men of the Defence Forces. I thank them for the work they are doing in building peace in the region

Deputy Dolan on the review and the response, there will be a review. At the most recent meeting of the Government task force on emergency planning on 11 March, it was agreed that a review of the response to Storm Éowyn would be submitted to Government … people could come to shower, to charge phones, to contact people and so on. I am very keen to see that developed. The Defence Forces are brought in by the civil authority. They can only come in if they are asked by the local authorities. Local authorities lead

completed their probation. This section also excludes employees with a retirement age set out in law, such as gardaí or members of the Defence Forces, from the Bill’s effect. Section 4 is a standard provision relating to expenses incurred in the Bill’s administration. Part

Bill does. The Bill does not impact on the retirement provisions in place for certain public servants such as gardaí, members of the Defence Forces and other people who are in specific, high stress, high impact jobs. I have heard other Members speaking about this. The Bill does

enough and the Minister knows this because, as an Opposition TD, he tabled a motion in 2019 related to the Defence Forces that highlighted this issue. Will the Minister please tell me what he is actually going to do to help those firefighters who are retiring

will be attended by the Secretaries General of the relevant Departments, the Commissioner for An Garda Síochána, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, the director of the National Cyber Security Centre and the chiefs of staff of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. The current national security committee

make sure there is a capacity review into how we deal with this. We also know there has been underfunding of the Defence Forces for many years, which has led to a huge recruitment and retention issue. All this does need to be addressed but we also have

matters relating to peace in the Middle East are of huge interest to me. I have been a proud member of the Defence Forces. I have worn the blue beret and provided the vital service of peacekeeper, alongside my UN colleagues, to the citizens of Lebanon. The Tánaiste

defence such as radar systems and anti-drone jamming devices. The reason I mention those specific things is that these are the request of the Ukrainian Government. They are what the Ukrainians need to stop the bombs falling on cities like Kyiv and on forces on the front

given great cause for hope. Very substantive figures have been appointed to senior posts. I met the ministers for foreign affairs and defence. There is a new President and a new Prime Minister. Finally, a Government is in place. They need help as well. They have just agreed … likes again, because we need to help the Government of Lebanon build up its public services and also build up the Lebanese Armed Forces, LAF. The primary purpose of UNIFIL being there is to support the LAF in protecting the peace, so we need to do everything

that category. I praise all the front-line staff, especially those in the ESB, outdoor council staff, the Civil Defence, the Red Cross, contractors, including agri-contractors and plant contractors, farmers, volunteers and nurses, who go out all the time. We used to call them district or community … cold, with no grants or planning and no way to heat their homes. It is pure unadulterated nonsense that people are forced to build houses, when getting planning in the country, which is so hard to get, with no chimneys and no way of heating anything. I hope

essentials has been allowed in no matter how critical. Just in case the Taoiseach or we were in any doubt at all, the defence minister in Israel, Israel Katz, told us that Israel's policy is clear that "no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza." Preventing humanitarian … state that "We have seen the images of children's bodies being thrown from one building to another due to the force of the bombing. We have seen the videos of families being burnt alive." These are the words of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Irish economy over the past number of decades and since the last recession reflects the strength of our highly skilled labour force. These factors do not change overnight despite the introduction of tariffs. In this environment, we must look to and trust in our competitiveness strengths to succeed … pivot as needed through the challenges ahead. We are not alone in this. We are part of the EU, which stands together in defence of fair trade. We are in contact with like-minded partners and supporters of the multilateral trading system from which we derive so much

issue in the 2020 election. People also realise that it is farcical that those in the private sector and elsewhere are forced into retirement when they do not want it. People are living longer lives. Many people have a lot to offer in the workforce. The previous speaker … relates to them. That is not in any way acceptable. There are real anomalies. I have spoken to the Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence, about one that needs to be dealt with. I do not wish to put it in the public domain at this point. When talking

drives our economy and creates jobs, has also been hit hard. Local shops, restaurants and services are struggling to stay afloat, with many forced to close their doors for good. We need a clear roadmap for recovery that prioritises our small businesses and fosters an environment where they … humanitarian assistance scheme is ad hoc, inadequate and too narrow in its provisions. It means investment in climate mitigation infrastructure such as flood defences, as well as dealing with issues around insurance for households and businesses where they cannot get flood insurance despite being in at-risk areas

Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on progress towards achieving the high-level goal for the Defence Forces, as set out in the Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2023 - 2026: "to provide for the military defence

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank currently in Defence Forces School of Music. [21333/25

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to request an update from the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces as to when an investigation will be completed into serious allegations of violence and abuse against women using military equipment (details supplied); if he will … seek the completion of the investigation given the Defence Forces member who the allegations are against is on paid leave, the grave nature of the complaints, and the Army's expressed desire to eradicate gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/25

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps his Department is taking to retrofit or otherwise bring vacant married quarters previously used by the Defence Forces owned by his Department back into use as accommodation; his plans for any units deemed unfit to be brought back into

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has engaged with representatives of the Defence Forces since January 2024 on the issues with the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension scheme for uniformed services recruited after 2013; the dates of those engagements

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are height requirements for joining the Defence Forces; the basis of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19885/25

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 18 February 2025, if the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) record the addresses of members of the RDF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20895/25

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated full-year cost if the Defence Forces sea going Naval personnel tax credit increased to €2,000 and reduced the number of patrol days to 68 days annually to be eligible. [20904/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the cadet classes of the Defence Forces were ever housed in hotels; the number of times this happened; the length of time in each case; and a breakdown of the amount this has cost the State each

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strength of the permanent Defence Force as of 31 March 2025 or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider funding a Defence Forces liaison officer to deal with the significant housing challenges that are facing serving members and liaise with housing agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/25

update in respect of the introduction of long-service increments (LSI) to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces; the date on which the awarding of the increment will commence; if the payment will be subject to backdated payments; and the number

will review the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension scheme for members recruited post-2013 in An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, Fire Service and Prison Service, in light of the fact that the scheme does not include a supplementary pension to bridge the gap between early

current pension arrangements for post-2013 uniformed public service recruits on long-term recruitment and retention within An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the Fire Service and the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17776/25

National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has engaged with trade unions or staff associations representing Gardaí, firefighters, prison officers, and Defence Forces members regarding the restoration or introduction of a supplementary pension benefit for fast accrual pension scheme members; and if he will make

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of new recruits admitted to the Defence Forces for each of the past five years, by gender; and the number admitted from each county, for each of the past five years, in tabular form [17024/25

Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the criteria for a person to be inducted as a member of the Irish Defence Forces legal services club. [17042/25

Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on his Department's work to encourage female participation and recruitment in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17305/25

Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the current gender balance of all serving members of the Defence Forces in percentage form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17306/25

Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he intends to review or update the integrated pension scheme, not only for Defence Forces personnel but also for other frontline public sector workers, including Gardaí, firefighters, and nurses, given ongoing concerns that younger members of these professions

Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has engaged with representatives of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, fire brigades, or prison officers since January 2024 on the issues with the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension

content to e-college that might encourage people to pursue careers in the areas of public sector recruitment shortfalls such as the Gardaí, Defence Forces or healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15485/25

Minister for Defence the progress being made on the creation of the chief of defence role, and supporting roles and the redesignation of the Air Corps and the Naval Service as the Air Force and the Navy respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter