those travelling for the purposes of training or carrying out terrorist offences when we do not put those travelling members of the Israel Defence Forces into that bracket. We all accept a genocide is ongoing. There is no greater terrorist on God’s green Earth than Israel
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In debates
munitions of war at all. They can be personal, a weapon or a member of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces
Predator and Pegasus. What resources, capabilities and legislation do we require? Where is the crossover between the National Cyber Security Centre, the Defence Forces and the Department of justice? We want something that works. We all welcome the fact that we will have sonar capacity. We need
Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Defence; justice; and environment, climate and communications; An Garda Síochána; the National Cyber Security Centre; and the Defence Forces. We are going ahead with the smaller radar.
In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I have made my comments in terms of Israel
Corps.
My Department is investing some €50 million in national defence infrastructure this year, with a further €12.5 million being provided to the Defence Forces on a fully delegated basis. In respect of Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel specifically, the following projects, costing a total of €5.8 million, have
Minister is aware, the Commission on the Defence Forces report proposed the development of a national maritime security strategy. I hear welcome news this morning that a public consultation process on the development of the strategy has been opened as of this morning. Will the Minister provide
honour of visiting Renmore on two occasions to see the proud sense there is in Galway of the contribution that Renmore and our Defence Forces based there have made.
I always like to recall the fact that we live in a country where approximately 80% of our population
Minister for Defence if he intends to establish a special review body to examine means of retention of skilled technicians in the Defence Forces; and if the timeframe for the process. [30785/25
While the Minister has addressed this issue earlier, the greatest challenge for our Defence Forces is the constant drain of skilled technicians. It is seriously hindering our operational capability, especially in the Naval Service where ships are tied up at dock. Will he commit to establishing a specific
established and given terms of reference, it should do a deep dive into the levers that can be used to make the Defence Forces an attractive career, rather than just the fact they are trained up by some of the best instructors.
I welcome the initiative
Deputy. As I said, we have objectively made good progress on pay, with a 49% increase in pay for a recruit entering the Defence Forces for training compared with six years ago, and rightly so. A school leaver can now be in full-time education and earn
Minister for Defence to provide an update on the incident in southern Lebanon where Irish peacekeepers came under fire from the Israel Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29866/25
that has been made with the Israeli Government after Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon having most recently came under fire from the Israel Defence Forces, IDF, at the end of May, which followed on from attacks by the IDF on Irish diplomats; how the Israeli Government has sanctioned
have strong foundations and it is important to get that across. We are not lame ducks. We have An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and an emerging intelligence capacity. These need to be fully integrated under the national security strategy, as the Tánaiste mentioned. We should
Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline any progress made recently in the case of a Defence Forces member who was killed on UN duty in Lebanon (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31241/25
processes, what is learned is carried forward such that the absolute best protocols are carried out in the context of our Defence Forces.
On a question completely unrelated to the triple lock, it also means that at times we probably need to have straight conversations with
could be wound up completely. While the Tánaiste has been out drumming up headlines about fighter jets, the most basic needs of our Defence Forces, and of a functioning state, have been completely neglected. The Government received a high-level report in 2021 highlighting the need for urgent
these Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Another million are facing emergency levels of hunger. The State of Israel and its defence forces are deliberately starving the Palestinian people. This country, due to our famine history and neutrality, has a unique moral authority and obligation
future.
I am also Minister for Defence. I have seen the utter destruction and death Hezbollah can bring to members of the Irish Defence Forces, and I think of Private Seán Rooney. I am conscious with regard to the British Government, recognising the separation that exists between governments
some time in Israel, I remain concerned about the fragile security situation in southern Lebanon and our serving men and women of the Defence Forces, including the ongoing Hezbollah planning and the continuing Israeli strikes and overflights into Lebanon and Beirut. I urge all sides to meet their
result of changes in the pension arrangements for the uniformed members of Dublin Fire Brigade, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and the Defence Forces. A group from Dublin Fire Brigade delivered a letter to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage last year calling
such as unfair dismissals; provided that the statutory protection of the Organisation of Working Time Act is now applied to members of the Defence Forces; concluded a public consultation on extending the late working hours exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises - feedback from the consultation will guide
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18075/25
share a great deal of concern about the challenges faced by the Defence Forces in recruitment and retention. It is severe right across the organisation but it is felt most keenly in the area of specialist staff such as air traffic controllers, engineers and explosive ordnance disposals officers
significant support across the country for military neutrality. We should be proud of our neutrality. It is not just a cornerstone of our Defence Forces policy but also our foreign affairs policy. We need that vision of positive neutrality. There are many neutral nations that spend
In parliamentary questions
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Written
Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on peacekeeping operations involving members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43414/25
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Written
Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the plans for the improvement of the pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43417/25
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Written
Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43418/25
Roderic O'Gorman
Written
Gorman asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline any figures that are available for the annual carbon footprint for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43574/25
Cathy Bennett
Written
Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current height restrictions in the Defence Forces; if the possibility has been examined of reducing these, either in full or with regard to certain roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43793/25
Barry Heneghan
Written
aware of the reported increase in Russian ‘shadow ships’ operating in Irish-controlled waters in recent months; the actions the Defence Forces are taking to monitor these vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43814/25
Matt Carthy
Written
Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure for each branch of the Permanent Defence Forces; the actual number for each year 2019 to date; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43832/25
Matt Carthy
Written
Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure for each branch of the Reserve Defence Forces; the actual number for each year 2019 to date; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43833/25
Matt Carthy
Written
Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who served overseas on a United Nations mandated mission in the years 2019 to date; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter
Sinéad Gibney
Written
Minister for Defence the progress and-or recommendations that have been made by the Institute for Security Governance in their oversight of the Defence Forces redesign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43998/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if progress has been made in restoring the training officer arrangements that existed between the Irish Defence Forces Cadet School at the Curragh Camp and the Navy of Malta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38888/25
Mark Wall
Written
Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current total personnel headcount of the Defence Forces; the total number of personnel who served overseas since 2024; and the total who have completed an overseas trip between 2024 and 2025. [39297/25
Mark Wall
Written
Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown of the initial estimated costs of each project listed in the Defence Forces Infrastructure Plan 2022-2027, and the actual cost of each completed project to date, in tabular form; and if he will make
Mark Wall
Written
Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown on his department's investment in housing and accommodation for the Defence Forces. [39300/25
Mark Wall
Written
Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of actions recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces which have been fully completed and implemented to date. [39301/25
Mark Wall
Written
Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the climate and environmental measures the Defence Forces has undertaken to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the Climate Action Plan; what related investment has been made to reduce emissions; and if he will make a statement
Mark Wall
Written
Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current status regarding the procurement of Defence Forces uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/25
Ged Nash
Written
highlight trends and predict needs into the future over a 1020-year period, as recommended by the Report Of The Commission On Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39724/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to continue the process of improving pay and conditions for serving Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38359/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
Defence to outline his engagement with stakeholders, such as an organisation (details supplied), with regard to improving pay and conditions for serving Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38360/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide data on new Defence Forces recruits figures for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38367/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of retirements and resignations in the Defence Forces for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38368/25
Réada Cronin
Written
Migration if an individual coming to this country from Israel will be stopped from entering if they have previously served in the Israeli Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38167/25
Barry Heneghan
Written
military funerals; if there are any other perceived advantages in such conversions, whether there are any further plans for such conversions of Defence Forces vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37086/25
Sinéad Gibney
Written
will make this report public; the steps his Department is taking to retrofit or otherwise bring vacant married quarters previously used by the Defence Forces owned by his Department back into use as accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37216/25
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