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House and as I have stated a number of times this evening, amending the legislation that governs how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas does not require a referendum. It does not require a national plebiscite. We are talking about a very different time when the legislation … they have been working for a number of years now and where they have been held in such high regard by their fellow defence force members and the Mediterranean Operation Irini because the UN mandate has not been renewed. This is what we are talking about

established Cuan, and we are pursuing a new strategy. Standards have to apply. I was involved in the matter in regard to the Defence Forces. It applies equally to An Garda Síochána. I have no doubt An Garda Síochána will reflect on these findings. I do not want … Again, there is a broader issue in terms of standards and character that apply to membership of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces

Reforming the triple lock is the right thing to do for the men and women of the Irish Defence Forces, Irish security, Irish sovereignty and Irish neutrality. I am disappointed by the Opposition's continued false framing of this debate. This legislation very simply proposes to remove … over Northern Ireland, yet it is happy for the UK to decide where the Irish men and women of our Defence Forces can serve overseas. This does not make any sense to me. Why does the Opposition not trust the public on this? We are fortunate to live

down in national legislation, namely, the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960. Therefore, amending the legislation which governs how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas does not require a referendum. I need to be clear on that. Any suggestion that we are amending the treaties is simply not the case … mandate being a requirement, it will have to be approved by Government and the Oireachtas and where there are over 50 Defence Force members being deployed there will have to be a report sent to the Oireachtas committee. There is full transparency to what we are doing here

dyslexia. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building. Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss the recruitment process for the Defence Forces. Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss increasing the mandatory retirement age for firefighters from 62 to 65. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss support mechanisms … safety concerns raised by the University Hospital Limerick medical board. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss breaches of the working time directive for Defence Forces staff. The matters raised by Deputies Ellis and McAuliffe, O'Meara, Healy-Rae, Quinlivan and Lahart have been selected for discussion

Taoiseach and the Tánaiste should be represented at that national security council but so too should the Garda, the Army and the Defence Forces in general. That will be a fundamental arm of the State going forward. I wish to comment on the unpredictability relating … years. Again, all of this is linked to cybersecurity. It is something that the Taoiseach takes very seriously. The beefing up of our Defence Forces and the prioritisation of resources in that regard needs to be fundamentally advanced. I will end by saying a brief word about

move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2025 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Referral to Committee of draft Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025 (without … Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and topical issues; 2. the proceedings on the Motion re Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2025 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; 3. the proceedings

partners and friends. We are speaking about the people who build our homes, teach our children, run our businesses and serve in our Defence Forces. Yet, too often, men’s health, especially men’s mental health, remains a taboo. In Ireland today, approximately 80% of all suicides … like to meet the counsellor in person, that will be arranged. We are funding dedicated services for men who have worked in our Defence Forces through ONE, the organisation for ex-service personnel. We are also investing in targeted outreach for Traveller men, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ

Department of Finance to the Tánaiste, Deputy Harris. I intend to assign the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Department of Education and Youth to the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. I intend to nominate … always significant. We will also push forward our plans to improve our ability to defend ourselves against very real threats. Investment in our Defence Forces and defence capabilities will remain a priority. I look forward to working closely with Deputy McEntee during what is already an intense period

local authorities, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Networks, Uisce Éireann, Community Welfare Officers 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 … Storm Éowyn. The strategic emergency management framework overseen by the office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence will be reviewed through the Government task force on emergency planning. My Department will commission a detailed review of the response to Storm Éowyn. This will be submitted

accident of history. It is a conscious expression of our independence, sovereignty and belief that small nations can be a force for peace in the world. Our non-participation in foreign conflicts or military alliances has earned Ireland respect across the globe, but this reputation has been steadily … Fine Gael want to dismantle that protection without the consent of the people. Sinn Féin rejects that approach completely. We support strengthening our Defence Forces, but our defence policy must be rooted in independence, multilateralism and peacekeeping, not closer alignment with military alliances. If Fianna Fáil and Fine

soon as it was safe to do so. Arrangements were put in place on Friday evening to make personnel and equipment from the Defence Forces, Coillte, the Civil Defence and the National Parks and Wildlife Service available to ESB Networks to help with power restoration. Ireland has been … concluded, however, a systematic review of the co-ordinated responses to Storm Éowyn will be conducted and submitted to the Government task force on emergency planning

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

those tasks and keep our country safe. That is why investing in its training facilities is really important. In fairness to the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence, I think the work they have undertaken in terms of developing a series of master plans for each installation

pinch points that are there are real. They often relate to very specialist skills. That is why I have asked the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence to jointly produce a plan of action for the Naval Service. I am expecting to receive that very shortly - within

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

greater support for our national security and resilience, with a 10.5% funding increase which will result in an additional 400 members of the Defence Forces and extra capital funding for our defence priorities. I commend the budget. I thank each and every Minister for all of the hard

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

supplementary question, given that other Members are waiting to ask questions also. The Tánaiste will be aware of another issue of interest to Defence Forces' organisations, which is the finding of the defence sector arbitration board on 18 November. It upheld a ruling that the terms and conditions

know to be issues with the veto by the permanent members of the Security Council, but beyond that the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 clearly states: "International United Nations Force" means an international force or body established, mandated, authorised, endorsed, supported, approved or otherwise sanctioned by a resolution … mandate was sought for Operation IRINI and, crucially, it is not a peacekeeping mission. The Minister spoke about four members of the Defence Forces having to withdraw immediately but that is false. They were not legally compelled to withdraw immediately because that was well under the existing limit

made to deal with this on a societal basis through State agencies and State forces - in terms of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. There has to be a very clear zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence. As the Deputy says, increasingly such violence

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

also have the effect of preventing the IDF or other armed forces engaged in genocide or war crimes from training with the Irish Defence Forces. It was revealed that IDF military personnel have trained in the Military College for a period of six years. This is something that

engaged in all processes and contributes fully to the development of policy in order that we can influence its evolution and that our Defence Forces can continue to benefit from this engagement. Our participation in EU defence initiatives will continue to be guided by a principles-based pragmatism

seas and what is happening. It is also about investing in cybersecurity, where An Garda Síochána has a lead, but also the Defence Forces now have their own unit within it to make sure their equipment is safe and cannot be interfered with by other outside forces … huge amount already. We are involved in PESCO programmes, European Defence Agency programmes and UN programmes. We are looking to see whether we can do more in joining more co-operative agencies, task forces and groups that are set up within the EU and beyond. Where

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 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

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the annual number of applicants to the Reserve Defence Forces in each year from 2018 to date in 2026; the number accepted for training in each year; the number who commenced the joint induction training syllabus; the number

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the average time currently required for a new Reserve Defence Forces recruit to complete the joint induction training syllabus and become fully qualified; whether her Department monitors attrition rates during this training process; if so, the attrition rate recorded

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of procurement projects currently underway within the Defence Forces; the stage each project has reached within the capability development lifecycle; and the estimated value of each project. [20412/26

Reform and Digitalisation if he will review the impact of the 2013 public sector single pension scheme on fast-accrual professions, including the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and Fire Brigades, in particular the removal of the supplementary pension which has created a significant financial

removal of the supplementary pension under the Public Service Single Pension Scheme 2013 on members of fast accrual professions including the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and fire services, particularly the gap between retirement in these roles and eligibility for the State Pension; whether

Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has reviewed the impact of the Public Service Single Pension Scheme on fast-accrual grades in the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Fire Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20309/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the total number of applications received to the Permanent Defence Forces; the number of candidates inducted into training; the number of candidates formally attested and sworn into service; whether induction figures are being reported as a substitute for enlistment

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Forces broken down by Naval Service Reserve, Army Reserve, and Air Corps Reserve; the number of vacancies in each branch; the average waiting time for a reservist to complete initial training

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the Reserve Defence Forces Regeneration and Development Plan; the specific targets within that plan that have been met, partially met, or missed to date; whether the plan contains ring-fenced funding commitments

Corps fleet; the primary operational purpose for which the aircraft was procured; whether this procurement was identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces report as a priority capability requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17555/26

which such approval was granted; whether any independent military assessment was conducted concluding this aircraft type best met the operational requirements of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17556/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence to provide a breakdown of the total capital equipment budget of the Defence Forces in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025; the proportion spent on naval vessels, aircraft, land systems, cyber and communications, and other categories