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Fundamentally, in any organisation, it is about the culture. In all of the work that has been done within the Defence Forces, the one word that kept emerging in terms of all the analysis, inquiries and so on was "culture". There are numerous policies in respect of these … issues but the biggest difficulty and challenge is around culture. Changes are occurring in the Defence Forces, which should be acknowledged given what has happened, and also within An Garda Síochána. Interestingly, there was a lot of resistance from those organisations to utilisation of the word "culture

allows the Minister to designate other bodies at the request of the chairman. Those other bodies include Departments of State and the Defence Forces. This is a new feature compared with the 2019 Act and recognises that bodies other than An Garda Síochána hold records that are potentially … receipt of such a request. The head of the State body could be the Garda Commissioner, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces or the Secretary General of a Department. An important development on the 2019 Act is that a request may, in addition to specifying

December, 2026, for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable under sundry statutes to or in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other Military Organisations, etc., and for sundry contributions and expenses in connection therewith; for certain extra-statutory children's allowances and other … expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain services administered by that Office; for the pay and expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of certain grants. Vote 37 — Social Protection (Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €14,066,335,000 be granted

relation to the situation in Lebanon, it is not acceptable what is happening. It is essentially a ground invasion. The Israeli defence forces and army are trying to annex the south part of the region. Unfortunately, that is where many of our troops are, though not all. What … assure the Deputy is that I am in regular daily contact with the Chief of the Defence Forces who provides me with updates of our troops and how they are. I am pleased to inform the House that all of our troops are safe and accounted

oral evidence to be taken in this jurisdiction before a High Court judge from members and former members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, senior officials and former Ministers. I absolutely welcome that. Without their co-operation, the inquiry simply cannot do its job and, without … Bill runs through the entire mechanism for former office-holders of any kind; not just former Ministers but also former Garda Commissioners, senior Defence Forces officers and departmental officials. Any of them can decline to give evidence. I understand this is constitutionally necessary because we cannot compel sworn

fullest co-operation possible with the existing inquiry is needed. The Bill allows the Irish authorities to take sworn evidence from Garda members, Defence Forces personnel, civil servants and former Ministers to support the Omagh bombing inquiry. It sets procedures for requesting, giving and protecting such evidence, provides … Under the Bill, any provision of oral sworn evidence to the inquiry by former members of An Garda Síochána, former members of the Defence Forces, former Ministers and former officeholders of Departments of State will be done on a voluntary basis, and there are some concerns regarding

seeing now is overwhelmingly driven by global events. Stepping away from our long-term approach would not shield households from those global forces. What it would do, however, is delay the transition that ultimately gives greater control over our energy future. When people adopt a simplistic approach … engaging in opportunistic pricing at a time like this. Before I conclude, it would be remiss of me not to recognise our Defence Forces and the diplomatic corps who are working in the region for the protection of Irish people and also for the protection of Lebanese citizens

years now being activated. We note the request from the United States Government for assistance from the Ukrainian Government with regard to defence mechanisms. The Irish Government has been equally clear Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Our view was the legitimate concerns … closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon. As the Minister mentioned, we have a strong connection with Lebanon honed through years of our Defence Forces' presence through UNIFIL. Our Minister has maintained daily contact with our Chief of Staff and with the troops on the ground. Those troops

witnessed horrors in Gaza and the West Bank. I call out the genocide that has happened and the disgraceful actions of the Israel Defence Forces. I spoke in the first debate we had on the Middle East. I checked back over the Official Record … lock are actually in favour of destroying Irish neutrality. They are in favour of handing over our powers to decide on our future defence and security policy to Washington, Moscow or Beijing. It is very easy for us in this country to speak about the horrors happening

authorisation from the United Nations nor has any attempt been made to seek such an authorisation. Ireland’s position on the use of force outside such a context is well established and known. Ireland’s position is equally clear that all states must abide by international … long, other people have made Lebanon their battleground, and we have sought, both politically and especially through the work of our Defence Forces, to assist the people of Lebanon in regaining the stability and prosperity that were once the envy of the Middle East. It is deeply distressing

extending the mechanism to State bodies other than An Garda Síochána, including both serving and former members of An Garda Síochána, and the Defence Forces, which is necessary and welcome. From a historical point of view, this is more wide-ranging than just those two State bodies. There

model used in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 but goes significantly further by extending participation to An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and departmental officials; by allowing family members, survivors and their legal representatives to be present during evidence taken before the High Court judge

certainly a long and overdue step that will allow Irish State bodies, serving and former members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, civil servants and even former Ministers to give oral evidence before a High Court judge to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry. However, I want

them. I am shocked by the stories they have told me and by the way they were treated. Likewise in relation to the Defence Forces, I have listened very carefully to what women who were members of the force had to say. How far have we got with

support a situation where China, Great Britain, the United States or Russia can exercise a veto over where and when Ireland sends its Defence Forces. Even small numbers of Irish troops with respected expertise in peacekeeping require the permission of the 20th century imperial powers. It does

whether we approve of a government. The United Nations Charter sets out clear rules for the use of force. Military action is permitted only in cases of imminent self-defence or when authorised by the UN. These principles exist precisely to prevent powerful states from deciding unilaterally when

over diplomacy. This confrontation has already spilled into Lebanon and across the Gulf. The UN Charter is explicit: force is prohibited save in the case of imminent self-defence or UN Security authorisation and neither is demonstrated here. Pre-emptive is not a substitute for legality

heads of the defence (amendment) Bill. Is there disagreement in Fianna Fáil over this? The Taoiseach wants to abolish the triple lock that enshrines the principle that we will only engage in the use of force with a UN mandate while a Fianna Fáil Minister of State

Lebanon, bombing at will and displacing tens of thousands of people, all while Israeli settler terror groups, fully supported by the Israeli security forces, continue a policy of creeping annexation of the West Bank. The Bible says Israel shall be a blessing to all the peoples … energy around the world has been disrupted and price rises and inflation will follow. We in Ireland need to look at our own defence and security. Our geographical location has protected us and we have been protected to a great extent by the NATO alliance. Our membership

Israel for it? It represents a flagrant breach of international law and US constitutional law. This is not a war of self-defence on America's part. There was no imminent threat. This is a war of opportunism. Benjamin Netanyahu saw an opportunity to take out the Ayatollah … repressive. We have seen it murder thousands of Iranian people just in recent months. We in the Labour Party have been consistent and forceful in our condemnation of that Iranian regime and in our support for pro-democracy movements and women's rights campaigners, and no one more

have been enormously impressed by the senior leadership of An Garda Síochána. They have played a pivotal role in reforming our national police force while tackling organised crime with unprecedented results and dramatically reducing the incidents of burglaries across the state. The Policing, Security and Community Safety … against gardaí cannot become the norm, in particular in cases where the accused has been subject to prosecution, has had access to a defence and has been acquitted by a jury of their peers. In particular, it cannot be the norm in a system like that which

systems, surveillance equipment, communications systems, and all other capital military equipment procured or contracted for procurement by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in February 2022; the cost of each item; the branch … Defence Forces for which each item was procured; whether each item was identified as a priority in the commission's report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17567/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the primary operational role of the Dassault Falcon 6X is ministerial and government transport, VIP transport, Defence Forces operational transport, maritime patrol, or a combination thereof; what proportion of projected annual flight hours are allocated to each role; whether a dedicated … ministerial or government transport aircraft of this specification represents an appropriate use of the Defence Forces capital budget given the acknowledged capability gaps in maritime patrol, surveillance, and personnel equipment identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces report; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current policy targets set by her Department for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces under the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan published in July 2024; the projected strength targets for each year to 2028; and the measures

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the ratio of Reserve Defence Forces personnel to Permanent Defence Force personnel as of the most recent available date; how this compares to comparable EU member states; what target ratio the Department considers appropriate; and if she will make

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the response capacity of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Forces, to provide aid-to-civil-power responses during climate emergencies such as storms or floods; and if she will make a statement

barrack accommodation, maintenance, and infrastructure in each of the years 2021 to 2025 inclusive; the current estimated backlog of maintenance works required across Defence Forces installations; the estimated cost of bringing all Defence Forces accommodation up to an acceptable standard; and if she will make a statement

that were established prior to the procurement of the Dassault Falcon 6X; who authored these criteria; whether the criteria were drafted by uniformed Defence Forces personnel, civilian Department staff, or external consultants; whether the criteria were reviewed and approved by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the proposed lateral transfer policy within the Defence Forces; the progress that has been made in developing this policy between the Department and the Defence Forces; whether a timeline has been set for its completion

Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the level of annual funding allocated specifically for the development, training and equipment of the Reserve Defence Forces in each year since 2020; whether the Government intends to introduce a dedicated capital funding stream for Reserve Defence Forces capability development

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the total capital and current expenditure allocated to the Reserve Defence Forces in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the proportion this represents of the overall defence budget in each year; whether … considers this allocation adequate given the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17548/26

aircraft it replaces or supplements in the Air Corps fleet; whether this capacity was identified as a specific operational requirement by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff; whether any scenario planning was conducted to assess whether a 14-seat configuration would be adequate for Defence Forces evacuation, humanitarian

Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains structured data on the reasons for resignation or discharge from the Reserve Defence Forces, including exit interviews or retention surveys; if not, whether she intends to introduce a formal retention monitoring system to support the objectives … Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20337/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether ring-fenced capital funding exists for the Reserve Defence Forces; if not, the reason therefor; whether reservists are currently required to personally purchase any items of equipment or uniform that should be provided by the State; the estimated … total value of equipment shortfalls currently experienced by the Reserve Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17550/26

full occupational cohort study of mortality in the Air Corps; whether they have been asked to carry out such a study by the Defence Forces or the Department of Defence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16292/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the current eligibility criteria for recommissioning into the Defence Forces for officers who were medically discharged; and whether the existing terms and conditions prevent individuals in this category from being reconsidered for recommissioning today. [21418/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of WTE dentists, physiotherapists, doctors and nurses posts filled at Defence Forces Medical Corps; and if she will provide same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [22143/26

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the number and percentage of applications from females to join the Permanent Defence Forces at the most recent army cadetship recruitment campaign. [22285/26

Digitalisation whether his Department accepts that members of An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, full-time fire services and the Permanent Defence Forces who commenced service on or after 1 January 2013 and are members of the single public service pension scheme will, in general, retire

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel by rank and by vessel that would be needed to ensure that all eight navy ships have the required crew to be able to operate at any one time. [21290/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of public servants recruited since 2013 in fast accrual professions including the Defence Forces and Fire Services who are members of the Public Service Single Pension Scheme; the estimated income gap that arises between retirement age for these

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the proposals she is implementing in relation to recruitment in the Defence Forces; the number which have been recruited for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number that have retired in the same period, in tabular form

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence to outline Ireland’s Defence Forces (army) capabilities and assets; to compare it with five years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18447/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of the Regeneration and Development Plan of the Reserve Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18641/26

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank, that would be needed to fully train a new army cadetship class of 65 personnel. [18681/26

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence if the maximum age limit to join the Defence Forces is 39 years of age, can an individual join right up to their 40th birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18867/26