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total public capital investment of €275.4 billion over the period to 2035 under the new national development plan, NDP. The accelerating infrastructure task force and a new infrastructure division are driving wide-ranging reforms that will remove barriers to the delivery of strategic infrastructure. Government has published Ireland … shared island fund, with a further €1 billion available out to 2035 to foster reconciliation, mutual respect and growth. On justice, defence and national security, we have established a new ministerial council on national security, which I chair. We have allocated €1.49 billion in defence funding in budget

come when we will welcome all our friends to Ukraine in peace and when we will welcome home all our people who were forced to flee back to a peaceful Ukraine, back home, and we are working to make it real. This morning here in Ireland, our team … they belong in its backyard like livestock. No politician in Europe or somewhere else should forget everything we have achieved together through our defence. I urge you to oppose any decision that weakens pressure on Russia for this war as long as war and occupation and the propaganda

when we talk about this country I often describe it as an unfinished story. In the current debate, when we talk about security, defence and how Ireland is going to approach this, I always say Ireland is having a conversation about this for the first time. Nobody needs … would be stopping my father's car. I was from Dublin. I had no experience of what it was like to have occupying forces on my doorstep but I know it was a gut feeling. I also know that now I have travelled a long distance, it does

hare to continue. In the last 15 years, more than 65,000 Irish hares have been captured from the wild and forced to participate in barbarism all because a relatively small number of people enjoy watching animals being absolutely terrorised and some want to make money through gambling … lobbies or, more likely, press the buttons at the seats to vote against a ban, all they really have is the coward's defence. They are just following orders. I hope that, at the very least, they will try to persuade their party leaderships that these orders

also leaning into security and investment in security. Canada is the only non-EU country to have partnered up on the SAFE defence spending initiative. It is a €150 billion partnership. Again, as the world is changing rapidly and rupturing rapidly, these are huge questions that smaller nations … could not seriously contemplate what is happening in Greenland. In the past half an hour, Trump has said that he will not use force, but again he caveated that in the midst of his rambling speech. God knows what he said in the past ten minutes. Europe need

given that arrest warrants have been requested by the International Criminal Court Prosecutor for key Israeli officials, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, including, inter alia for the crimes against humanity of extermination and persecution, and the war crimes of starvation, wilful killing, and the causing … complicity in genocide; — insist that the CBI immediately end its facilitation of the sale of Israel Bonds; and — enact emergency legislation to explicitly force the CBI to stop facilitating the sale of Israel Bonds. I thank all the parties that have worked together on this cross-party motion

with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which … historical injustice driven by ignorance and prejudice. The offences in question were enacted under British rule but very regrettably continued in force for the first 70 years of the Irish State before finally being abolished in 1993. However, consenting adults who were convicted of such offences still carry

been a very dry debate. With respect to his officials who crafted the response, to me it appears to be an indefensible defence of a broken system. I believe the systems and frameworks that we have in place for managing our environment, protecting our rivers and bringing them … respectful debate on them. The decision was taken and that was that. Off we went. People in agriculture have to be involved. Task forces see an intrinsic role for people working in agriculture, including farmers, in the management and stewardship of our environment. I acknowledge that organisations such

street so they can avail of the domestic tariffs. The local authority in south Dublin appears to be trying to penalise people by forcing them to use commercial rate chargers. That is not the way to encourage people to use EVs. As someone who has driven … numbers have been highlighted but the one-off payments have gone and people are in a very vulnerable position. I welcome the defence spending. I see nothing on drone technology. Given the drone attacks, I would love to see that put in place for next year. I welcome

they could have a relevant evidential value crucial to a fair trial, but the reality that disclosure is now considered the norm by defence teams. The reality is that rape victims who have taken the stand are being asked about unrelated and irrelevant matters, which they had discussed … address the fact that this Bill amends the Schedule to the Bail Act 1997. It adds the offences of coercive control and forced marriage, in both cases under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, to the Schedule to the Bail Act. Many people will be disappointed by the fact

Middle East; EU enlargement; and Europe’s competitiveness in a changing global context. Other items on the agenda were European security and defence; migration; the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia; the Pact for the Mediterranean; disinformation; and a proposal for a regional strategy for the Atlantic … adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 on the establishment of the Board of Peace and of a temporary international stabilisation force. We called on all parties to implement the resolution in its entirety and in line with relevant international political and legal principles. The Council reiterated

face of it, this is a positive development. The Industrial Development Act 1986 does not provide a dedicated mechanism for environmental grants, forcing agencies to shoehorn decarbonisation projects into categories designed for employment creation or output expansion. This is clearly outdated. However, several questions arise. First, what safeguards … deleting section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act. We are told this would modernise and streamline engagement with enterprises in the defence, security and resilience sphere but defence-related industrial activity is sensitive and removing statutory constraints without a clear explanation for that is extremely concerning

services and relief and social services in Gaza, the West Bank and across the region; expresses its grave concern at the entry into force of Israeli legislation on UNRWA, which will have far-reaching consequences for UNRWA's operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem … official Dáil record that a paragraph of the motion relating to a meeting of the Oireachtas Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on 5 November 2024 incorrectly attributes comments to officials in my Department. These comments were in fact made, surely in good faith, by an adviser

have been enormously impressed by the senior leadership of An Garda Síochána. They have played a pivotal role in reforming our national police force while tackling organised crime with unprecedented results and dramatically reducing the incidents of burglaries across the state. The Policing, Security and Community Safety … against gardaí cannot become the norm, in particular in cases where the accused has been subject to prosecution, has had access to a defence and has been acquitted by a jury of their peers. In particular, it cannot be the norm in a system like that which

make a compelling case that disclosure is required. Therefore, such records will only be released where the judge deems them relevant to the defence. I know that there have been calls for an outright ban on the use of counselling records in criminal trials, including by the Deputy … Bail Act 1997 to amend an inaccurate legislative reference and to add to the Schedule the offences of coercive control and forced marriage, which are provided for in the Domestic Violence Act 2018. This will mean that where a bail application is made by a person charged with

this has been provided through procurement partnerships with Denmark and Lithuania. This is to provide elements of air defence purchased from Ukraine’s defence industries. This support will help Ukraine to defend its towns, cities and energy infrastructure from Russia’s brutal air and drone attacks. Last month … have been made, there are many challenges to overcome. Most recently, Syria witnessed another outbreak of localised violence in Aleppo, where government-aligned forces clashed with Kurdish fighters. While a ceasefire has since been agreed, it reminds us of the importance of supporting the new transitional government

Railway Safety (Reporting and Investigation of Serious Accidents, Accidents and Incidents Involving Certain Railways) Act 2020 was enacted and came into force on 31 October of that year as a solution to prevent a gap in arising in the legislation that would leave the RAIU without a statutory … prosecutions. These mirror provisions in place in the corresponding circumstances from the Road Traffic Act of 2010. Section 65 amends section 108 on defences for a defendant and expands the provision in line with the measures available under the Road Traffic Act and includes offences in relation

people working across farms, fishing vessels, aquaculture sites and food and beverage enterprises in Ireland. Their hard work and expertise are the driving force behind the agrifood sector’s success. Ireland’s agrifood produce has a globally renowned reputation for quality and safety. Irish agrifood exports reach more … pressure on the EU’s multi-annual financial framework, or overall budget, in the period after 2027. Member states are more concerned about defence than at any time since the foundation of the European Economic Community. I believe, however, that the Commissioner’s vision provides the basis

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if pilots undergoing training with the Royal Air Force required additional conversion training to the EC-135 helicopter upon their return to Ireland (details supplied); if so, the amount of training; the additional cost before final qualification

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

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of meetings of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning held since 2022; the exercises completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47201/25

Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of military attachés from foreign armed forces accredited to Ireland; the number that are military officers; the number that are civilian; when Ireland’s first military attaché will be accredited abroad; the length of time

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the cost of training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider inclusive of training, salaries, travel and subsistence, in total and per pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24794/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if pilots undergoing training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider require additional conversion training to the Air Corps PC-9 aircraft upon their return to Ireland (details supplied) and if so, the amount of training

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the cost of training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider inclusive of training, salaries, travel and subsistence, in total and per pilot.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24807/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if pilots undergoing training with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider require additional conversion training to the EC-135 helicopter upon their return to Ireland (details supplied); if so, the amount of training and the additional

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the cost of that training with the Royal Air Force inclusive of training, salaries, travel and subsistence, in total and per pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24814/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Ireland plans to be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine even if Russia does not consent to the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49149/25

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the work of the Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction. [36398/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any weapons systems, weapons mounts, weapons integration capability, force-protection systems, or armed operational configurations have been procured, approved, planned, or considered in connection with the Airbus H145 helicopters acquired for the Air Corps; and if she will

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the average duration of these courses with the Royal Air Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24815/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Ireland has agreed to be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine even if Russia does not consent to the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49148/25

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the average duration of these courses with the United States Air Force or associated USA training provider and if the minister will make a statement on this for written reply. [24795/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the average duration of these courses with the United States Air Force or associated USA training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24808/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline Ireland’s continued participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43705/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details on the hiring processes of the armed forces which ensure vulnerable peoples are not put at risk at any stage of the process; and that safeguarding procedures are in place. [31780/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if any other undertaking, facility or understanding was reached with the Royal Air Force as part of the transaction in addition to the financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24817/26

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding air traffic controllers and the impacts of the reduced staff force on Air Corps flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49269/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total cost of the most recent public recruitment campaign for the naval forces; and the current number of new recruits who have joined the force since the campaign began. [31307/25

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Defence for a report on the recent meeting with the French Minister Delegate to the Armed Forces, Alice Rufo. [33111/26

Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025 enables Irish troops to be sent abroad as part of an international force that has not been approved by the UN and is not a peacekeeping, peace enforcement

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if a UN General Assembly resolution that endorses, supports, approves or otherwise sanctions an international force or body satisfies the legal requirements of the triple lock, irrespective of whether a UN General Assembly resolution is legally binding

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the number of pilots of the Air Corps that have undergone helicopter training with the Royal Air Force in the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24813/26