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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

able to support the people on the ground. We heard Deputy Callaghan speak and, like her, every peacekeeping troop or member of the Defence Forces I have met wants to continue that operation on the ground. That will not be possible. I will mention as another example Operation … part of any new mission that is being progressed. This is what we are trying to do. We have members of the Defence Forces who train, are highly skilled and are highly experienced. As missions are not being renewed because the UN Security Council is not operating

public service pension scheme, in particular for fast accrual pensioners. Who are they? They are workers such as firefighters, guards, those in the Defence Forces and prison officers - our uniformed services who have to retire at 55 years of age and are being told by this Government … this campaign, which is being run by a number of trade union groups such as SIPTU, the Prison Officers’ Association, and the Defence Forces representative bodies, seek is that a supplementary pension would apply when they retire at 55. This is one of the last of the FEMPI

timelines, the defence (amendment) Bill 2025, which relates to how deploy our Defence Forces overseas, is included in the Government's legislative programme for priority publication during the current parliamentary session. The drafting of the Bill is continuing in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and publication … well that it also includes other amendments to the Defence Act to provide for the suspension, in certain circumstances, of members of the Defence Forces, as well as other smaller matters. The Deputy referred to the Nice and Lisbon treaties. While it is absolutely essential that we follow

devastating economic consequences. In this context, I welcome the establishment of the national security council, which will bring together key Government, Garda and Defence Forces leaders. This is a necessary step in ensuring that strategic security and defence policy will be treated as a national priority. Ireland … investment in primary radar for airspace monitoring is welcome but it must be part of a broader sustained effort. Increased funding for the Defence Forces, for recruitment and retention initiatives and for enhancements to the Naval Service and Air Corps are all steps in the right direction. Greater

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the way the new strategic framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces will improve Defence Forces working conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12176/26

there is more work we need to do. I fully appreciate that. There is a new strategy being worked on looking at the Defence Forces overall. The Defence Forces and the Chief of Staff are working on a strategy that will set out how we will achieve

across all areas of security and defence. Ireland will consider joining projects in areas where capabilities and needs have been identified by our Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. Other member states may have wider interests, but it has been made clear in the White Paper that … decisions on defence spending remain a matter for individual member states. We are focused on developing our national defence capabilities and transforming our Defence Forces, and we will leverage the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE regulation as much as possible to progress delivery of Ireland

from having a level of co-operation with other states. Being neutral does not stop us from enhancing and modernising our Defence Forces and the protecting the likes of undersea cables. It does not stop us from increasing the numbers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service … having modern equipment. It is the Government parties that have presided over the running down of the Defence Forces. I welcome the fact that some money is being invested in them and there have been some improvements but there is a lot more to do. Poor

that she was going to meet all the representative organisations. I welcome that and hope that includes not only those for the Permanent Defence Force but also those for the Reserve Defence Force and the veterans' organisations. I am sure RACO will raise this issue with the Minister

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the National Cybersecurity Centre. The programme for Government, securing Ireland's future sets out a number of national security commitments, acknowledging that this … focus on ensuring protection of critical maritime infrastructure, especially critical undersea infrastructure. The ongoing implementation of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the modernisation of aspects of our defence legislation is also included in the preparations. The National Cyber Security Centre has been placed

represents the people of Ireland as a whole. Neutrality is not a weakness. It is independence. Do we need to invest in the Defence Forces? 100%. Do we need to ensure our Defence Forces can protect the country? 100%. However, we also need to hear the voice

groups when I met them. Every effort to nominate an adjudicator for the conciliation and arbitration, C and A, scheme for the Permanent Defence Forces is being made to bring it to a conclusion. Efforts have been under way for some time. As the Deputy will be aware … scheme for the Defence Forces is the primary mechanism for addressing industrial relations issues in the defence sector. It is a voluntary mechanism that provides structures for management and the military representative associations to engage on issues as they arise. I am glad these structures have helped

international conflict resolution. Instead of trying to dismantle the triple lock - neutrality protection - it would serve the Government better to invest in our Defence Forces. The greatest asset that we have in our Defence Forces is the men and women who put on the uniform. If the Minister

member states to co-operate more on capability development and inter-operability. This very much aligns with the ambitious investment programme for our Defence Forces that is in place to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces and aligns fully with the programme for Government

Deputy Wall is right because not only is the Curragh, to use his phrase, the jewel in the crown from a Defence Forces point of view and a valuable resource for the Defence Forces, but more broadly it is also an incredible resource for the people of Kildare

very serious and significant debate. Perhaps the most serious debate that any nation state can have is where it sends its defence forces and what are the circumstances under which it sends its defence forces abroad. It is, of course, incredibly important in this country because

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how he will ensure adequate funding for the Defence Forces in line with the report of the commission on the Defence Forces. [6102/25

southerly direction from Scotland towards Wales. It is being tracked all the time by the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Lasers have been used from the ship to blind the eyes of pilots trying to track it. It is important during our Presidency of the European … patrol our territorial waters and ensure Ireland, Inc. and the European Union are safe and defended from rogue elements and the Russian defence forces, which are quite malignant forces at the moment. This Government is committed to ramping up investment in the Defence Forces

have provided direct military support in-kind. This includes ten tonnes of meals, 200 units of body armour, two mine flails, 30 Defence Forces vehicles, satellite communications systems, Reacher Robots and Giraffe radars, as well as €2 million to the information and communications technology, ICT, coalition we have … joined with our European partners. Defence Forces personnel have also provided training support to 762 members of the Ukrainian armed forces. Ireland has to date committed approximately €250 million in non-lethal military assistance for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. At EU level, the release

thank the Minister and very much welcome her emphasis on a greater increase in diversity within the Defence Forces. In my constituency, my colleague Senator Diarmuid Wilson is a member of the defence and security committee and attended the event in Renmore Barracks last week. Several people referred … weekend at clinics and other gatherings I was at. This shows the general interest among the public in the well-being of our Defence Forces. It was good to see those people, the chaplain and his colleagues, being honoured in view of the very serious incident they faced

Ireland until we can get a UN mandate in this decade or the next decade. Most Irish people believe what the Irish Defence Forces have done in Lebanon is important. In Lebanon in particular, the Defence Forces have kept the aggression of Israel in check in many parts

garda is convicted of a criminal offence, that should be collated, recorded and collected by An Garda Síochána just as the Defence Forces are now devising a system to do that in respect of Defence Forces members who may have committed a criminal offence. That level of data

Section 1 of the Act defines a member in this context as "an officer, non-commissioned officer, private or seaman of the Defence Forces". RACO is limited in law to representing officers of the Permanent Defence Force and chaplains are not classified as officers so they cannot

does. I have family members directly involved in the service. I was pleased to see the significant increase in funding provided to the Defence Forces in the last budget. I particularly welcome the Commission on the Defence Forces' recommendation of an accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence her Department’s plans are to improve the quality and collection of statistics relating to Defence Forces recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54534/26

Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of external competitions held for external applications to apply for instruments posts within the Defence Forces in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of persons who applied for each

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the amount of extra capital and current funding allocated to the Defence Forces during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. [52714/26

Defence the cost of enhancement of the Air Corps' fleet with the addition of two additional medium lift rotary wing aircraft for enhanced Defence Forces support and priority ATCA taskings as per the CODF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52824/26

Meara asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 9 June 2026, the number and categories of Permanent Defence Force specialist vacancies which it is intended to fill through Direct Entry during 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51921/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to increase recruitment to the Defence Forces since January 2025; her priorities for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51927/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to increase retention levels in the Defence Forces since January 2025; her priorities for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51928/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to support and expand the Reserve Defence Force since January 2025; her priorities for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51929/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Defence the number of actions recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces which have been completed and implemented to date. [52069/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Defence the specific supports available to veterans of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52072/26

impact of the removal of the supplementary pension under the single public service pension scheme on members of fast-accrual professions, including the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and fire services, with particular regard to the income gap between retirement and eligibility for the State

Migration his Department’s assessment of the risks posed by emerging AI-enabled cyber tools; the measures in place to ensure that the Defence Forces and the NCSC can counter such threats during the EU Presidency and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the permanent Defence Forces who have participated in the military medicine training scheme since its establishment; the number who were required to enter into service undertakings as a condition of participation; the duration of such

asked the Minister for Defence regarding the Army Nursing Corps, the current cost for using agency nurses for covering nursing duties in the Defence Forces; the number of hours that were covered by these agency nurses for the 2025 fiscal year; and if she will make a statement

asked the Minister for Defence regarding the Army Nursing Corps, the current cost for using agency nurses for covering nursing duties in the Defence Forces, in total for 2025; the average hourly cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49755/26

regarding the Army Nursing Corps (ANC), the pay scale for an ANC nurse; the number of hours covered by agency nurses in the Defence Forces for the 2025 fiscal year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49756/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence to outline the measures she has in place to protect the national Defence Forces memorial at Merrion Square, Dublin; and if she will address recent concerns about activities by commercial operators at the memorial. [47984/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of horses that had trials for the Defence Forces Equitation School in the years of 2025 and to date in 2026; of the number of horses that had trials the number that were successful in being accepted

extension of the 1916-2016 Commemorative Medal or the establishment of a separate 1916 centenary medal for veterans and retired members of the Defence Forces who took part in commemoration events; and if she will provide details of any such proposals. [48160/26

arrangements adopted by An Garda Síochána in relation to the Garda Síochána Centenary Medal in considering recognition of former members of the Defence Forces who took part in commemoration events; and if she will provide details of any such proposals. [48161/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who received the 1916-2016 Commemorative Medal; the eligibility criteria applied; and whether extending eligibility to retired members who took part in the 1916 commemorative events was considered at the time. [48163/26

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of crew and passengers the Defence Forces new Airbus C295W can carry as opposed to the older CASA CN235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46817/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if she will work with veterans organisations representing Defence Force veterans in the North with a view to ensuring they are remembered for their service to the Irish State, and the Government recognise commemorations and other relevant events

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Defence to set out the procedure for residents residing adjacent to a Defence Forces location (details supplied) to submit a complaint; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47558/26

Social Protection the actions he plans on taking for those who have been working to date this year as reserves in the Defence Forces, and are now being left without certainty regarding income as they do not have the necessary PRSI contributions to qualify for jobseekers benefit