regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [18071/25
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In debates
Tánaiste mentioned, cyberdefence depends on highly skilled personnel. I welcome the fact the Tánaiste has mentioned this. I have many friends in the Defence Forces and from speaking to them I know they would like to go down this route. An Garda Síochána also plays a key role
challenge in recruiting and retaining key staff for an area such as this unless something significant changes. If we get things right, the Defence Forces can offer a very rewarding and interesting career for people who have the skills and capabilities in this area
Oireachtas and I welcome the creation of the new committee.
The Deputy's numbers are correct. So far, we have 19 from the Defence Forces plus ten civilians. That brings us to 29 when fully populated, which is not yet. Obviously, that is to start the unit
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to radically restructure Defence Forces recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/25
Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the professional instructor payment will be paid to commissioned officer instructors in the Defence Forces, as committed to by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/25
work they do in our local communities.
I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement during the week regarding instructor allowances for officers in the Defence Forces. The announcement of instructor payments for officer members who are heavily relied on to plan, supervise and deliver crucial training along with their
provided to serving personnel when on duty. To date, €13.5 million has been invested in providing additional accommodation. Since the inception of the Defence Forces infrastructure development plan €18.5 million has been invested in various projects across the naval base.
Extensive work is ongoing to oversee a turnaround
will be operational or the numbers of people that will pass through it? I understand that it is for all units of the Defence Forces to use as a training camp. I wish to get a sense of the level of activity that might be there
told that in 2024, 577 recruits were inducted, consisting of 451 Army, 46 Air Corps and 80 Naval Service recruits into the Permanent Defence Forces. As of 28 February, which is the last date I have for figures, 34 recruits were inducted so far this year
when I was there recently. I met a local community group wanting to know. In general, I have found the position of the Defence Forces and the Chief of Staff to be one of wanting to work with local communities where possible. "I do not know
Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's plans this year for funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/25
McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current recruitment and retention challenges facing the Defence Forces; the measures being taken to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17650/25
Could the Tánaiste detail the plans this year as regards funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces? We all know that if we take this over a five-year period, we have had more losses than we have had recruitment. It is a huge issue
Lebanese Government, particularly regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and on his views on how conditions could be improved for Irish Defence Forces personnel serving on peacekeeping duties there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15503/25
completed their probation. This section also excludes employees with a retirement age set out in law, such as gardaí or members of the Defence Forces, from the Bill’s effect. Section 4 is a standard provision relating to expenses incurred in the Bill’s administration.
Part
Bill does.
The Bill does not impact on the retirement provisions in place for certain public servants such as gardaí, members of the Defence Forces and other people who are in specific, high stress, high impact jobs. I have heard other Members speaking about this. The Bill does
enough and the Minister knows this because, as an Opposition TD, he tabled a motion in 2019 related to the Defence Forces that highlighted this issue. Will the Minister please tell me what he is actually going to do to help those firefighters who are retiring
will be attended by the Secretaries General of the relevant Departments, the Commissioner for An Garda Síochána, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, the director of the National Cyber Security Centre and the chiefs of staff of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The current national security committee
make sure there is a capacity review into how we deal with this. We also know there has been underfunding of the Defence Forces for many years, which has led to a huge recruitment and retention issue. All this does need to be addressed but we also have
matters relating to peace in the Middle East are of huge interest to me. I have been a proud member of the Defence Forces. I have worn the blue beret and provided the vital service of peacekeeper, alongside my UN colleagues, to the citizens of Lebanon. The Tánaiste
huge credibility of our peacekeepers, whom I commend for the work they have done. It was not helped by the underfunding of the Defence Forces over many years which has resulted in their withdrawal from the Golan Heights. They have built our credibility. We have the credibility that
fringe conspiracy theory during the Lisbon treaty debates.
The Government will tell us that the triple lock is too restrictive and prevents the Defence Forces from carrying out their duties to protect the State and the Irish people. This is nothing more than a smokescreen. All we need
member state competence. We are doing it ourselves anyway. We decided to do that as part of the Commission on the Defence Forces. That pressure to increase spending is coming from the threat it sees from Russia, which Ukraine has suffered in the land invasion and which other
would spend money if there were increased spending? We all know there has been a deficit in spending as regards the Defence Forces, and that we need to ensure we have capacity as regards everything from radar through to hybrid attacks and cyberattacks, which we are all open
In parliamentary questions
Maeve O'Connell
Written
Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of times the Defence Forces has engaged in static guard and cash escorts for the Central Bank in each of the past four years. [36397/25
Maeve O'Connell
Written
Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces continues to provide security on campus at any prisons across Ireland. [36399/25
Maeve O'Connell
Written
Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the planned withdrawal of tasking the Defence Forces from the provision of static security at a premises (details supplied). [36400/25
Duncan Smith
Written
detail regarding the evacuation of 15 Irish citizens from Israel, specifically the role of Austria in the evacuation, and the reasoning behind the Defence Forces not performing the evacuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35442/25
Aidan Farrelly
Written
Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a schedule of the number of Defence Force members that made applications to the Garda trainee programme in each year from 2021 to date in 2025; the number of those that were successful at stage
Ged Nash
Written
proposal to explore the creation of a military attaché network, a proposal which was recommended for urgent introduction by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34688/25
Cormac Devlin
Written
Defence if consideration is being given to the acquisition or long-term leasing of a dedicated strategic or tactical airlift capability for the Defence Forces, either independently or in partnership with other EU member states; if such consideration includes the C-130 Hercules or the Airbus A400M
Paul Donnelly
Written
Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of horses that had trials to get into the Defence Forces Equitation School in the years 2024 and to date in 2025; and of the number of horses that had trials, the number that were successful
Eoin Ó Broin
Written
Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether his Department or the Defence Forces currently have any contracts with or purchase from a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/25
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Written
secretary-general and the counterpart in the Department of Defence regarding a person (details supplied) who was denied the transfer of a Defence Forces’ pension that was given to his late wife following the death of their son while on UN duty in Lebanon; and if he will
Conor D McGuinness
Written
Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total cost of the continuous Defence Forces recruitment campaign; the number of new recruits to each service; and for a breakdown of the spend for each of the services in each of the past ten years
Cian O'Callaghan
Written
ensure that the Government provides diplomatic assistance for the immediate release of the 12 activists from the Freedom Flotilla 'Madleen' from the Israeli Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32304/25
Mark Wall
Written
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of female applicants and recruits to the Air Corps compared to other arms of the Defence Forces; the percentage new recruits that were women, in past five years; the steps his Department is taking to increase female participation
Seán Crowe
Oral
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
Duncan Smith
Oral
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
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of residential Defence Forces buildings that are currently not habitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31326/25
Sinéad Gibney
Written
State’s ability to monitor and patrol Irish seas and airspace, in light of the ongoing difficulties with recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31236/25
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
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. [31324/25
Séamus McGrath
Written
Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strength of the permanent Defence Force as of 31 May 2025, or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30834/25
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Written
regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [31325/25
Paul Lawless
Written
Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has considered the concerns raised by academics and Defence Forces personnel (details supplied) regarding the proposed removal or amendment of the triple lock mechanism; the way in which such changes would impact Ireland’s long-standing
Barry Ward
Written
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding any initiatives that seek to encourage both recruitment and retention of personnel in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30440/25
Tom Brabazon
Written
Brabazon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions his Department is taking to improve recruitment and retention rates within the Defence Forces. [31255/25
Conor D McGuinness
Oral
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
Barry Heneghan
Written
Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the current and planned measures by the Defence Forces to enhance their preparedness for responding to climate-related emergencies, including flooding, wildfires and severe weather events, in light of the growing risks these pose
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