Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence to report on any progress made in the investigations into the death of a Defence Forces member (details supplied) who was killed on duty in Lebanon (details supplied); when the independent post-incident inquiry will be supplied
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25+ in debates · 25+ in questions · page 22
In debates
Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence when legislation to amend the triple lock mechanism for the deployment of the Defence Forces overseas will be introduced, the expected timeline for its passage and implementation and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53891/26
meet them and see the work they do and they will come out of that room extremely proud of what our Irish Defence Forces personnel are doing, not just in peacekeeping roles but also in international organisations
What is striking and surprising is that the Minister for justice did not accept a provision that is already in place in the Defence Forces. The Government has already prohibited future purchases of military equipment from states like Israel, so it is hard to understand why a similar
increasingly uncertain world. While Ireland remains militarily neutral, neutrality cannot mean vulnerability and, for decades, the Minister will know that the Defence Forces have been neglected. Despite years of warnings and ample time to prepare, we still lack basic capability to protect our own skies and seas against
criticism and I take it on the chin but, of course, what he failed to include is that the retention crisis in the Defence Forces is starting to reverse. In the past two years, we have seen more people joining and that is a good thing. The average
right to fly that flag for a free Ireland, the flag that draped the coffins of Irish patriots and servicemen in the Defence Forces alike. They did not die so that a sitting Member of the Upper House of the Oireachtas could stand up generations later and call
Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces, as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance, as the Deputy alluded to. As I have already stated, the Minister remains fully
spent quite a lot of time in the occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza. I have witnessed the way the Israeli Defence Forces have behaved. I have thankfully never been a direct victim but I have had stones thrown at me by Israeli settlers in Hebron
convictions for homosexuality-related offences today, and there are provisions relating to arrest warrants, prisons, the Minister's capacity to ask for Defence Forces' help, counselling notes, sex for rent, DNA, pepper spray, community service orders, face coverings - there is so much
services records as well. There are records there. There were people who were not necessarily court-martialed but were cashiered out of the Defence Forces rather than being charged. They would have those records in personnel files. This is not to add a burden; it is just
think it is appropriate that the legislation should make express provision for the long-standing role of the Defence Forces when they assist the gardaí. I think that aid to civil power role is better off being set out on a statutory basis
security policy. It brought together a wide range of stakeholders including civilian and military experts, academics, current and former members of the Defence Forces, representatives of international institutions and members of the public. It was held over four days in Cork, Galway and Dublin. Approximately 1,000 people
through the various different channels. The issue is on the agenda of the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. I have agreed to see if there is something further or another mechanism or way in which we can address this.
There also
clearer commitment in that regard.
In the time I have left I will briefly raise another issue on the welfare of Defence Forces personnel in the context of the tribunal process. The Women of Honour group has raised the issue of the absence of interim funding for representation
members. I am committed to working with them in trying to advance not just pay but overall working conditions for members of the Defence Forces. If we want to achieve higher numbers, if we want to achieve a greater workforce design and if we want to expand
security of peacekeepers in Lebanon. It is important to stress that I engage with our own Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and our own personnel on a daily and weekly basis on the current situation and to ensure that our personnel are safe. In parallel
Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the current military radar capability of the Defence Forces; her plans, if any to increase such capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43588/26
This is to ask the Minister for Defence the current military radar capability of the Defence Forces or plans, if any, to increase such capability and whether she will make a statement on the matter
give us an indication of the level of training necessary for the operation of radar and what is the estimated number of Defence Forces personnel who will be considered for radar duties?
Finally, is it the intention that radar specialists will be recruited, possibly from France, as part
What will be the first date on which the anti-drone technology will be in place? When will it be operational from the Defence Forces' point of view? It is far too late. This was meant to be delivered in quarter 3 of last year. That is down
Defence the plans in place for an expanded Naval Reserve presence in Galway as supported by the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42813/26
infrastructural presence in the form of a Naval Reserve base in Galway, as supported both by the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and by the maritime security strategy, and will she make a statement on that matter
commend the frankness of the report by the Commission on the Defence Forces. It noted the serious area and scale of responsibility that we have in "our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the scale of fishing activity in our waters, the number of aircraft crossing Irish controlled airspace
would encourage more local people, potentially, to join the Naval Service or the Naval Reserve. That is noted by the Commission on the Defence Forces as well.
To bring it on then to our national maritime strategy, one of the initial action points for the first strategy
In parliamentary questions
Sean Fleming
Written
Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence her views on whether much of the Defence Forces housing stock is badly in need of repair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71651/25
Richard Boyd Barrett
Written
Defence in the context of Government plans to introduce legislation on the triple lock; the particular deployments or type of deployments of the Defence Forces that she believes she is precluded from making under the current legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71837/25
Edward Timmins
Written
Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure retention of staff in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72035/25
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the investment planned for enhancing Ireland’s cybers-security capabilities within the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72014/25
Brian Stanley
Written
Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the military equipment that has been transferred from the Irish Defence Forces to the Ukraine Armed Forces and government of Ukraine over the duration of the war since the invasion by Russia; and if she will make a statement
Tom Brabazon
Written
Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on the Defence Force's existing capabilities for detecting, assessing and responding to unauthorised drone activity within the State; and whether current resources, equipment and training are adequate given the increasing prevalence of unmanned aerial systems
Cormac Devlin
Written
Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Defence her plans to meet with the Defence Forces representative associations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71655/25
John Paul O'Shea
Written
Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on planned investment in the Defence Forces facilities in Cork, including Collins Barracks; if any upgrades, refurbishments, or expansions are scheduled to support personnel stationed in the Cork region
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the shortfall in critical staffing levels in the Defence Forces poses a national security risk; the steps being taken to resolve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72054/25
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
change in the total cost of approximately €300 million for the programme; if the current training courses for such operations in the Defence Forces are compatible with the new system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72055/25
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the number of personnel required to meet Level of Ambition 2; the current number of personnel; and her target for recruitment each year under this Government. [72056/25
Donna McGettigan
Written
Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Defence the number of musical shops that applied for the contract to supply the Defence Forces School of Music with musician instruments but were unsuccessful when the contract was last out to tender; when will this contract be next
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Written
Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of females that applied to join the Defence Forces 2025 in cadetship recruitment campaigns for both Army and Naval service, in tabular form. [71421/25
Paul Murphy
Written
Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the average wait time for security clearance to be granted to reservists in the Defence Forces. [71474/25
Duncan Smith
Written
Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the plans that are in place to keep members of the Defence Forces operationally ready once peacekeepers are withdrawn from Lebanon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72287/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on capital funding to Defence Forces Projects in the National Development Plan for the period 2026 to 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72395/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to increase recruitment to the Defence Forces during 2025; her priorities for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72500/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to increase retention levels in the Defence Forces during 2025; her priorities for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72501/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to support and expand the Reserve Defence Forces during 2025; her priorities for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72502/25
Richard Boyd Barrett
Written
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if any member of the Defence Forces or other State staff have received or are scheduled to receive training at a location (details supplied); the details of the number of personnel, type of training, and dates training occurred
Barry Ward
Written
Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the capacity the Defence Forces have to deal with drone incursions such as the one reported during the visit of President Zelenskyy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70915/25
William Aird
Written
Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the progress since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with a primary radar system capable of detecting and tracking rogue and non-conforming aircraft within airspace controlled by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter
William Aird
Written
Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the efforts made since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with aircraft capable of intercepting and policing rogue or non-conforming aircraft within Irish controlled airspace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71255/25
William Aird
Written
Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to increase the technical and radar operator/controller manpower levels within the Irish Defence Forces; and the success which have achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71256/25
William Aird
Written
Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Defence Forces in Ireland; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71257/25
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