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Garda leading on this but it is obviously working very closely with a number of different bodies. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces by Government is the provision of aid of the civil power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested … each occasion that the support of the Defence Forces is required, An Garda Síochána requests their assistance and accordingly any security assessments and consequent decisions to seek support from the Defence Forces in terms of security provision are a matter for An Garda Síochána in the first instance

April and May, members of the Irish Defence Forces' 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron travelled to the Fort Benning in the US, where they achieved historic success at the 2026 Sullivan Cup, becoming the first non-American team to win the competition since it began in 2012, and this … while using fighting vehicles with which they had no previous familiarity. We frequently speak here of the pride we have in the Defence Forces, but this is yet another example of how the men and women of the Irish Defence Forces continue to distinguish themselves internationally. I come

Sullivan Cup and the success they brought to themselves and our country. I acknowledge not just Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's interest in our Defence Forces, but his long-standing advocacy on behalf of them, which is coloured in part, I am sure, by the community and constituency … which he lives and, therefore, the knowledge he has in regard to that lived experience in County Kildare. I am proud of our Defence Forces. Every day, I am proud of the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann and how they serve our country with distinction

committed to strengthening recruitment to and supporting retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,823 personnel on 31 May, the most recent date for which we have a figure available. Last year … Corps and 75 into the Naval Service. I am pleased that there continues to be very strong interest in careers in the Defence Forces, with a total of 16,510 applications received in 2025 and over 10,000 applications received to end May of this year. The challenge

only so much we can partake in. In regard to UN requests over the past ten years, in September 2019, we had 14 Defence Forces personnel deployed to a UN mission in Mali as part of a joint operation with the German armed forces. This arose from … participation in that concluded in 2022. In December 2021, we received a request from the UN to provide members of the Defence Forces to support the United Nations Mine Action Service in Entebbe, Uganda. One Defence Forces expert is currently serving with this training initiative under this arrangement

Minister is 100% correct that we all want to see recruitment to our Defence Forces continue. However the figures she has given far from the 11,500 sought by the Commission on the Defence Forces by 2028. The Minister mentioned 850 a year. Is that the height … hope is to bring these houses back into habitable condition. This is what we need to do to improve recruitment to our Defence Forces. We need to look at the pension scheme and we need to provide housing for those who want to enter our Defence Forces, regardless

would not be possible to include in the legislation at the time. While it may not be the same, since then the Defence Forces, though they are excluded from this, have been very clear that where appropriate they adhere to the principles of the Act within the military … justice system and this is reflected in the Defence Forces victim's handbook. In saying that, because of a number of different meetings and engagement I have had, I have asked my officials to look at this again, so there are deliberations taking place. As part of this

have served on UN missions and who are currently abroad on missions. We recognise that overseas service is a core task of the Defence Forces. Many men and women join the Defence Forces because they want to take part in international peacekeeping and peace support operations. I envisage … experience, professional development opportunities and the ability to contribute directly to international peace and security is essential. The one thing members of the Defence Forces say to me when they come back is how they can feed back the experience they gain to our troops here. There

make changes so that there is an appropriate level of oversight. I would again stress that a lot of people in the Defence Forces are very keen to make sure that it is an environment in which people feel safe. I believe it is but where issues arise … This Value Our People survey will be carried out on a continuous basis so that we can assess what is changing within the Defence Forces, how people are feeling, what challenges are still there and how we can improve. With Patricia King and others through the external oversight

There must be something in it, in the sense that the gap between the level of applications and inductions is very high. The Defence Forces is working through its strategic workforce plan to seek to make improvements on that. My own sense, for what it is worth … there, you can lose them. Faster processing and processes are important. Regardless of applications, inductions are thankfully rising. The size of the Permanent Defence Force is growing again. The issue the Deputy raised about recruiting from abroad is one I do not want to give a knee-jerk

criticise. Our people left on that day and the mission continues. Frankly, we are the big losers in that because our people, our Defence Forces members who are ultimately there to protect this State and its people, are losing the experience and superb training they were getting because … Council and the actions of one member. UNIFIL is coming to an end of the year. We will have more members of the Defence Forces working in office roles in Brussels than we will on peacekeeping missions at the end of the year because of the triple lock

victims' charter but also in other ways. The external oversight body, which was only established in April 2023, is working with the Defence Forces to make changes where needed. I regularly meet the chair, the chief of the Defence Forces and others specifically on their work

should be looking at countries where Irish Aid is active and where we could recruit members to the Permanent Defence Force on fixed-term contracts to allow us achieve the strength level required in our Defence Forces to fulfil their mandate. Many national armed forces make formal

that, and I know they are take great pride in the work they do. The health, safety and well-being of our Defence Forces personnel is front and centre in everything that I and the Department do. When we talk about capital investment and investing in equipment, infrastructure … finance to improve pay, terms and conditions, it is all with the ambition of ensuring that the health and well-being of our Defence Forces personnel are front and centre. As the Deputy said, there are ongoing litigation challenges. I will not get into specific detail

cannot commend our Defence Forces enough on the level of training our personnel get. That is evolving and changing all the time. I was recently in a barracks where there was new technology that enables our Defence Force personnel to train in tanks in a simulated fashion

past week on the lack of support provided by the Department of Defence to Women of Honour, whose members are participating in the Defence Forces tribunal. I absolutely understand that it is important to guarantee the independence of the tribunal and I also understand that limited supports … place, but it is vital that we listen when victims of abuse within our Defence Forces tell us that what is in place is inadequate, especially when, in testifying, they are reliving some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Will the Department commit to providing additional

Amendment) Bill 2026 is to consolidate, with amendments, the existing provisions of the Defence Acts relating to the despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State. The Government approved the text of the Bill on 9 June 2026. The Bill has been published … principal change is the removal of the requirement for a UN mandate as a condition for the deployment of members of the Defence Forces overseas, but the Bill retains existing requirements for both Government approval and Dáil approval before such a deployment can take place. Crucially, the legislation

they have focused primarily on procedural matters. The next hearing is scheduled to take place on 22 July, and my Department and the Defence Forces are co-operating with this process in full. The coroner has scheduled the opening of the substantive inquest from 17 November. The independent … Delaney for his work on the report. As mentioned previously, the report examined the internal tactics, techniques, processes and procedures of the Defence Forces with a view to identifying lessons arising from the circumstances surrounding Private Rooney’s death. I reviewed the report and referred

Ireland's role in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, means that the Defence Forces have once again capacity to consider other UN missions that are in line with our neutrality. [53650/26

State’s own defence. We sit bottom of the EU table in terms of defence spending, and no matter how impressive the men and women in our armed forces are, we are not equipping them with the tools to do their job as effectively as possible … call to waste money or to start buying up tanks. It is, however, a call to pay members of the Defence Forces better so that we can improve recruitment and retention. It is a call to invest in drone technologies, as suggested by President Zelenskyy earlier, to move

very clear that the purpose is to adjust and amend the Defence Act so we can continue to either dispatch our Defence Forces personnel for service outside of the State, or make sure they stay part of the peacekeeping missions they are currently part of. We know that … align us with any other military force. This is to make sure that we can continue to deploy our service personnel, our men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann, overseas for peacekeeping missions. Government approval for the text of the Defence (Amendment) Bill was received on 9 June

Council in Dublin Castle was, if Members can pardon the pun, a real "Ode to Joy" - from the band of the Defence Forces and the National Youth Choir who heralded the hanging of the Irish, EU and then the Ukrainian flags, to all the other performers … addressing the geopolitical challenges such as the aforementioned war in Ukraine and other global conflicts, and in terms of building resilience and defence capacity, which President Costa mentioned as well. On a related note, I mentioned at the EU affairs committee of which I am a member

thank colleagues for attending the opening ceremony but particularly wish to use this opportunity to thank the wonderful choir, Defence Forces band, artists and singers, in particular those who contributed today. They really added to the sense of occasion and gave people a sense of what … absolute priority. We will continue to demand a just and lasting peace, upholding the fundamental principle that borders cannot be changed by force. It is time for Russia to agree to a ceasefire and to engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace. The Irish Presidency will work to maintain

should be strong on neutrality and strong on defence. I absolutely agree with that. The Minister talks about the need to ensure that Defence Forces personnel have the ability to deploy internationally and are not prevented from participating in rescue missions. I have no problem at all with

would ask the Deputy a number of questions. First, does he trust Óglaigh na hÉireann? Does he trust our Defence Forces? If he does, then he trusts them to make the decision. The triple lock, as amended, will ensure

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the breakdown, by gender of current members of the Permanent Defence Forces; and a breakdown by gender of members of the Defence Forces recruited in the past three years, in tabular form. [57959/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces applicants who did not progress to becoming members of the Permanent Defence Forces in the past three years; the breakdown of the reason they did not become members; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on the Commission on Defence Forces recommendation to clarify the roles of the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Defence Forces’ ARW to ensure that there is a clear understanding

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Defence the measures currently being considered to improve pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces, with particular regard to recruitment, retention and the overall attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces. [53652/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Defence whether the Defence Forces is on course to achieve the recruitment target of 11,500 personnel, as recommended by the Commission on Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52070/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of the Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Defence Forces; the measures completed to date; those currently underway; the expected timeline for the remaining measures; the impact of the programme on Defence Forces

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Defence the specific capital investment projects planned for the Defence Forces over the next five years; the way in which these investments will address current capability gaps identified by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make

decision of the European Committee of Social Rights, published on 9 February 2026, which found that the prohibition on overtime across the Defence Forces and the lack of adequate provision for payment of public holiday premiums breach the European Social Charter; whether she plans to introduce overtime … members of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55716/26

Ireland's role in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, means that the Defence Forces have once again capacity to consider other UN missions that are in line with our neutrality. [53650/26

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the way in which her Department is preparing the Defence Forces for the increasing role of drones, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in modern defence and security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54053/26

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the number of requests received from Cork County Council for Defence Forces support during severe weather and flooding events in each of the past five years; the number granted; the personnel deployed; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the progress her Department has made on increasing recruitment in the Defence Forces in the past 12 months. [57954/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the number who have left the permanent Defence Forces in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57955/26

engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitilisation on reinstating the supplementary pension for members of the Permanent Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57957/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the amount her Department has spent on recruitment advertisements for the Defence Forces in the past 12 months, broken down by whether the cost was directly associated with advertising, design, or consultancy fees, in tabular form. [57958/26

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who have retired or been discharged in each of the past five years. [58528/26

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the number of new personnel who have joined the Defence Forces in each of the past five years. [58529/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces are incorporating artificial intelligence technologies into operational planning, intelligence analysis and cybersecurity activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59141/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on peacekeeping operations involving members of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59152/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence the plans for the improvement of the pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59155/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59156/26

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. [55290/26

details supplied) illegally transported military aircraft parts, including F-35 components, through Irish sovereign airspace on 7 July 2026, destined for the Israeli Defence Forces at Nevatim airbase; if his Department intends to contact the airline; the action, if any, he proposes to take; and if he will

European Committee of Social Rights of 9 February 2026 on overtime and public holiday premiums will apply to all ranks of the Defence Forces, including cadets, enlisted personnel and commissioned officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55717/26

Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Defence the steps she is taking to improve retention in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55990/26