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decriminalised in 1993. Shockingly, military law still refers to the old 19th century criminal laws which state it is an offence in the Defence Forces under the Defence Act 2007, although in 1993 the then defence Minister, David Andrews, affirmed in the House that it would … considered in breach of the regulations of the Defence Forces. Let me be very clear. I unequivocally condemn every administration - British, Free State and Republican - that enacted, defended, enforced and supported these heinous laws over a 359-year time period. To date, no apology for those

without any notable injury to the individuals at the blockades or any member of the force. I also want to commend the Defence Forces, who provided assistance to An Garda Síochána in the provision of equipment required to remove vehicles forming parts of the blockade

felons be accustomed to. When the Free State was founded, this homophobic bigotry was enshrined in law again in the running of our Defence Forces where consensual activity was deemed a military offence subject to court martial. That was reinforced as late as in the Defence … escape. There was no space for people who did not conform. This was also the time of the Magdalen laundries, the industrial schools, forced adoption and record incarceration in psychiatric hospitals. For gay men, the State was against them, the church was against them and in many cases

Army for Whitegate refinery on Wednesday, 8 April. The next day, the Minister made public that a request was being made to the Defence Forces. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, was not informed until just before the request went in. Deputy McEntee is the Minister for Defence

with no real follow through. On Thursday morning the justice Minister ratcheted up the tension by announcing that the assistance of the Defence Forces had been requested. In his rush to get on the airwaves, it appears he neglected to consult with the Minister for Defence. His intervention

officially achieved in 1993. As was said earlier, this removed the colonial-era laws of the Brits that had previously been in force here. Among the activists involved was a man with whom I served a term, the bold former Senator, David Norris. He took the legal challenge … recent and, as Deputy O'Reilly said, it is within easy living memory. We also had members of the Defence Forces who were convicted in military courts for having same-sex sexual relationships. To be discharged dishonourably and shamed must have been horrific for them. Like many working

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 the State will be done on a voluntary basis. There are some concerns regarding

section 5(4)(i), requires the head of the State body, be that the Garda Commissioner, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces or the Secretary General of a Department, to be of the opinion that acceding to a request would be likely to prejudice the fundamental

seeking to introduce a form of compulsion for former officeholders, be they past members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces or the Civil Service or former ministerial officeholders, to give evidence before the High Court. This would be subject to the person concerned having the right

This reputation cannot be gambled away. Any move away from neutrality will not be supported by the Irish people. The neglect of the Defence Forces is a political choice, and running a bulldozer through it will not fix it. The scale of human suffering across the world

people in those services was increased from 60 to 62 years. I know from responses to parliamentary questions that 122 personnel in the Defence Forces and 112 gardaí have since remained in the force beyond the age of 60. Can we look at extending this further

protesters were being manipulated by some idiot in the UK called Tommy Robinson. The C70 form sent by An Garda Síochána to the Defence Forces is an essential part of our security system. To politicise that, as the Minister for justice did on Thursday morning, is absolutely

given the team with members of the murderous Israeli army and I will not insult the victims of genocide by calling it a defence force. I will do my utmost to prevent that game from going ahead. I will leave the Minister of State with this

refused to listen. A succession of senior Ministers issued combative, patronising and dismissive statements. The Minister for justice spoke about sending out the Defence Forces before anyone had even spoken to the protesters. That is not leadership; it is a failure of leadership. The vast majority of protesters

fuel protests in Mayo and did not see any Government TDs there. Instead, the Minister for justice threatened to send the Defence Forces against our own people. These were ordinary, decent, working people and their families - farmers, hauliers, bus drivers, contractors, people with disabilities, carers, and home help

genuine grievances at the heart of the protests. It had a justice Minister playing the big man and threatening to deploy the Defence Forces, which served only to inflame tensions even further. This is not how to listen to genuinely held pleas for help. This

This situation should have been de-escalated long before it reached this point. The Government did not have to put our gardaí and Defence Forces into very difficult situations. I have great sympathy for them. They are members of those communities they had to go into and they

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the amount that the Defence Forces spent on purchasing specialist fire appliances for Defence Forces fire services in 2025 and to date in 2026; the ages of the fire appliances that are currently in use, in tabular form

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of Irish Defence Forces members participating in military competitions with the Israeli Defence Forces; and if confirmed, her views on such on participation. [29788/26

Minister for Defence if she will consider allowing people who have moved to Ireland under an EU Directive (details supplied) to join the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31068/26

driving permit specific to members of An Garda Síochána who drive service vehicles in the course of their duties, similar to the Defence Forces AF154 permit system.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31013/26

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if permission is required from her for the participation of members of the Irish Defence Forces in foreign military 'competitions'. [29787/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence the criteria for a person to be inducted as a member of the Defence Forces legal services club. [30077/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Defence to amend the regulations governing entry to the first line reserve Defence Forces to address the issues in correspondence (details supplied) [30942/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure that the Defence Forces are adequately staffed and resourced to meet current and emerging security challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29257/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the current status of recruitment and retention initiatives within the Defence Forces; the measures being considered to address ongoing personnel shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29258/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the level of investment being allocated to the modernisation of Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure; the timeline for the delivery of key capability upgrades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29259/26

Defence the measures in place to enhance cybersecurity and protect critical national infrastructure from emerging threats, including any role envisaged for the Defence Forces in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29261/26

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the number of heavy vehicle recovery trucks purchased for the Defence Forces in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; the number of those heavy vehicle recovery trucks withdrawn from the fleet

Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 270 of 24 February 2026, the total expenditure incurred by the Defence Forces on all outsourced services listed in her reply in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; the projected expenditure

February 2026, the total expenditure on agency medical personnel that is, nurses, lab technicians and other specialist roles across the Defence Forces in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 and the budgeted figure for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28411/26

Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 270 of 24 February 2026, the estimated additional cost to the Defence Forces of outsourcing second-line aircraft maintenance and civilian technician support in the Air Corps compared with performing these functions in-house, for each

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the impact that the intervention of the Defence Forces in the current fuel protests will have on public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27571/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the reason the Defence Forces do not keep track of success and failure rates at the recruitment medical stage, such as acceptance or rejection or any data relating to medical appeals, as indicated in recent FOI responses (details supplied

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the payment of long-term increments to members of the Defence Forces; the reason for the delay in implementing these payments; when it is expected that eligible personnel will receive their entitlements (details supplied

civil power; and the regulations made under the Defence Act 1954 that currently authorise the use of the Defence Forces as aid to the civil power. [25228/26

Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the process by which a C70 request may be made at present for use of the Defence Forces as aid to the civil power; the person or body that can make such a request; the circumstances in which a request

military roles onboard Irish Naval Ships are carried out by suitably qualified civilian persons; and if all roles are met by Permanent Defence Forces personnel. [26688/26

Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of indoor and outdoor firing ranges excluding firing ranges owned by Defence Forces that armed Gardaí have regular access for firearm training in 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [26676/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if pilots undergoing training with the Royal Air Force required additional conversion training to the EC-135 helicopter upon their return to Ireland (details supplied); if so, the amount of training; the additional cost before final qualification

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the cost of training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider inclusive of training, salaries, travel and subsistence, in total and per pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24794/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if pilots undergoing training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider require additional conversion training to the Air Corps PC-9 aircraft upon their return to Ireland (details supplied) and if so, the amount of training