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European Union initiative, again on cybersecurity, predominantly, and on maritime security as well. We have a programme of investment in our Defence Forces on an ongoing basis. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl correctly raised a whole range of other cases. What is happening in Sudan is appalling and it gets

many years in some aspects, insofar as it is used, quite correctly, by the bloodstock sector, the sheep farming sector, by the Defence Forces and for recreation and amenity purposes by the public, but there has never been any effective control or management of those uses. I would

north Kildare. On defence, anyone who watched "Upfront with Katie Hannon" last night was reminded how successive Governments have treated members of our Defence Forces. Over the last few weeks, we have seen Micheál Martin strutting around Europe, rubbing elbows with NATO members and softening

services such as telecommunications and water impacted by the widespread outages. Furthermore, ESB Networks is engaging with An Garda Síochána, the HSE, the Defence Forces and the subgroup on humanitarian support to ensure vulnerable customers are prioritised and communicated with. All sectors need to understand who their vulnerable

That is how urgent this is. I cannot understand why the Army was not brought in from day one. We have Defence Forces personnel and they should be trained in all of these things if they are not already trained. If they are not then I suggest they

council staff, emergency personnel, GPs and their surgeries, public health nurses, community pharmacists, postmasters and their staff, ESB personnel, Civil Defence, community volunteers, Defence Forces personnel, farmers and small local businesses. Time and again we see the value of their service and we owe them our thanks. Storm

might be relevant to the Galway flood defences? The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has set up a new task force on infrastructure delivery. I hope the issue of flood defence will be included in that. When we are looking at lands that can be built on, flood defence … barriers to getting infrastructure delivered. If the length of time we know it takes for flood defences to be completed could be a particular focus of the infrastructure task force, that could be quite worthwhile. There have to be ways for us to find efficiencies, whether

other States.” That means, under Irish and international law, the only two situations in which it is legal to use military force is in self-defence or under a UN mandate. It is a joke that the Government wants to get rid of the triple lock but still … Charter. The UN Charter is what is outlined precisely in the triple lock. For at least 65 years, since the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960, an international force or body established by the Security Council or the General Assembly is what an international United Nations force needs. That

invasion of Ukraine is constantly being cited as a reason the European Union must militarise, increase spending on weaponry and arms and force a singular defence policy. This is flawed and dangerous thinking. It leads the European Union down the cul-de-sac of militarism and inevitable

Israelis have the right to live in peace and security but so do Palestinians. However, international law limits the use of force in self-defence to no more than what is necessary and proportionate. The Government's position has been clear for some time now: Israel is breaking

defence, Russia's ongoing brutal war against Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Europe's security landscape. Every member state has been forced to reassess how we approach defence, both individually and collectively. Ireland's Presidency provides a forum to advance discussions on strengthening Europe's resilience, particularly in areas

last September as a “vile messiah leading a cult of lies and death”. Another former head of the Israel Defense Forces and former Israeli minister for defence referred to Israel becoming a “messianic dictatorship that is racist, fascist, homophobic, misogynist”. There is no doubt the Prime Minister

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason the export of €20 million worth of dual-use technology to the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Ministry of Defence was sanctioned by his Department in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45930/26

innovation association that involves aerospace companies which have ties to the defence sector – I would not call it the defence sector as the Israel Defense Forces are a murderous sector - in bilateral funding, education and culture. According to the European Union - the Commission - the State of Israel

matter of public interest. Colleagues may be aware that since the 2009 Act was enacted and came into force on 1 January 2010 there was a statutory defence in line with what was referred to under the common law as a Reynolds-type defence. Section 26 gave effect

deliberate actions, the humanitarian system in Palestine is crumbling. Food supplies are depleted, children are starving to death. UN agencies are being forced to shut operations right when they are needed the very most. UNRWA cannot fulfil its mandate any more. Aid workers, some of the kindest, bravest … entire population like this. What Israel is doing in Gaza and increasingly in the West Bank is not self-defence. It is the use of overwhelming force against a trapped civilian population and it has to stop. Ireland has not been afraid to say that loud and clear

case had the act been heterosexual in nature. Second, the relevant misconduct offences under the 1954 Act remain in force and, according to the Department of Defence, continue to be used today. Their inclusion will open the possibility of misconduct convictions right up to the present

underpinned by an official public warning function. Looking forward, the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence, as chair of the Government task force on emergency management subgroup, is developing a plan for the next stage of the NFFWS which will enable the implementation of comprehensive

whether we approve of a government. The United Nations Charter sets out clear rules for the use of force. Military action is permitted only in cases of imminent self-defence or when authorised by the UN. These principles exist precisely to prevent powerful states from deciding unilaterally when

thank all those involved in the preparation for, and response to, the flooding events. This includes volunteers, particularly organisations such as Civil Defence, who have done Trojan work and deserve the Government’s sincere thanks. As Deputies will be aware, the response to major emergencies is carried … communities and improving the detail and accuracy of forecasts. Oversight of this work now sits with the Government task force on emergency planning, chaired by the Department of Defence. Our climate is changing. We are seeing more frequent storms and extreme weather events. In response, my office

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current levels of staffing in the naval force as of October 2025; the operational capacity of current staffing levels in regard to naval vessels; the timeframe for recruitment to ensure operation of all existing vessels

together on the ground. Our troops work to protect the Lebanese people and support the Lebanese armed forces. We also have an increasing bilateral relationship when it comes to our defence co-operation more broadly, and I would like to see that expand and grow, given our history

over diplomacy. This confrontation has already spilled into Lebanon and across the Gulf. The UN Charter is explicit: force is prohibited save in the case of imminent self-defence or UN Security authorisation and neither is demonstrated here. Pre-emptive is not a substitute for legality

being about getting rid of the veto the Security Council powers have on the deployment of our forces. Does the Taoiseach accept that no such veto exists because of the Defence (Amendment) Act introduced in 2006, which makes clear that it is not only peacekeeping missions endorsed

inflation has risen and supply disruptions, including to energy supplies, have emerged. Member states have been forced to take action to mitigate these economic impacts and enhance their security and defence infrastructure. How Europe and the international community respond has far-reaching consequences for Ukraine, European security

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the progression of projects to enhance the physical working environment and equipment of the Defence Forces. [31782/25

Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the implementation of a new independent external complaints service for the Defence Forces. [31783/25

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the development of a cultural change programme for the Defence Forces. [31784/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date figures relating to Defence Forces recruitment of personnel broken down by service, rank and reserve or non-reserve status, by month from the period 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Irish Defence Force's army force design process; when it will be completed; when will the results be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/25

Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of addresses of properties under the ownership or control of his Department or the Defence Forces which have been lost due to adverse possession since 1 January 2015. [30029/25

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the advertisement budget allocated to the permanent Defence Forces in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30289/25

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on purchasing specialist military equipment from German based companies in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [30393/25

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current protocol regarding the national flag being on the coffin of serving members of the Irish Defence Forces or former members; the position regarding the flags being on coffins inside a church; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has consulted Defence Forces personnel regarding the proposed removal of the triple lock neutrality mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30728/25

Migration if Israeli nationals seeking a visa to visit Ireland are required to provide information as to whether they served in the Israeli Defence Forces and/or were involved in the commissioning of war crimes in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29303/25

Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will increase the maximum age to join the reserve Defence Forces to 43; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/25

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the policy of the Defence Forces relative to granting transfers on compassionate grounds where a member has an immediate requirement to be stationed close to home for family reasons; the number of such applications being processed currently

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the ages of horsebox vehicles currently in use by Defence Forces equitation school; if funding is available in 2025 for the purchase of additional horsebox vehicles. [25356/25

amend the public sector single pension scheme introduced in 2013 to reinstate the supplementary pension for members of uniformed services such as firefighters, Defence Forces personnel and members of An Garda Síochána, in recognition of the shortened career span and the inability of many to work beyond early

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are carrying out exercises in the St. Bridget’s Campus, Ballinasloe; if so, the reason residents were not notified as there was loud noises during the night; and if he will make a statement

Defence to provide an overview on the recent acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters and the capabilities he expects them to provide to the Defence Forces. [23731/25

Defence the progress that has been made in implementing the long service increments, contained in the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24313/25

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

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

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

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

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the removal of the triple lock will pave the way for greater Defence Forces participation in EU-led military missions. [17269/25