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very much to doing that again and to personally assisting in any way I can on this, and more broadly in regard to Defence Forces facilities across the country. There are sensitivities around Defence Forces facilities, as there should be, but there is also a common-sense approach … that my Department and the Defence Forces endeavour to take. These are State assets and State resources. Where they can be used for the community, and particularly for schools and sporting clubs, there is a real advantage. I am conscious that having a certainty around use allows clubs

have served on UN missions and who are currently abroad on missions. We recognise that overseas service is a core task of the Defence Forces. Many men and women join the Defence Forces because they want to take part in international peacekeeping and peace support operations. I envisage … experience, professional development opportunities and the ability to contribute directly to international peace and security is essential. The one thing members of the Defence Forces say to me when they come back is how they can feed back the experience they gain to our troops here. There

wave of militarism sweeping Europe and the rest of the world. It is not good enough that the Government would use the Irish Defence Forces as a political bargaining chip when it has singularly failed to address the serious problem with retention and recruitment that the Army … years. The problem is not with the Security Council or anyone else but that people in this House have run down the Defence Forces. This is the biggest challenge with our Defence Forces as we move forward

leave politics aside. Ireland has a proud and respected tradition of peacekeeping, international engagement and support for the UN. Generations of Defence Forces personnel have served overseas with distinction, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, making an outstanding contribution to international peace and security. Our commitment to those … proposes that reform of the triple lock is synonymous with abandoning neutrality. The triple lock is a legislative mechanism governing the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. I take issue with my good friend Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, who suggested somehow that we are sovereign and can send

will prioritise the planning and execution of this, and a Presidency that showcases our country, while steering the EU agenda in 2026. The Defence Forces is an institution that goes above and beyond. It serves Ireland with distinction every single day. When a naval ship sails over … skill, dedication and honour. I want thousands more young people to consider serving their country, community and families through a career in the Defence Forces. To achieve this, the biggest transformation in the Defence Forces' history needs to be followed through on. Investment has increased. Working conditions

look forward to the visit with him. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that we have operational capability of the Defence Forces and that it is maintained at the level it is at, but that we go significantly beyond that so it is developed further … This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established capacity development and this will be called the equipment development planning processes. This has been underpinned by significant increases

Irish people decide our future, not the rest of the world. Independent Ireland strongly believes we can support and strengthen our Defence Forces while remaining proudly neutral. Those two things are not contradictory. Our Naval Service needs ships, our airspace needs protection, our soldiers deserve proper … conditions and our Defence Forces need investment after years of neglect, but strengthening our Defence Forces' capability is a very different thing from dragging Ireland closer and closer to European military structures. People in Ireland understand this clearly. They do not want Irish neutrality chipped away

RELATION TO CERTAIN NONJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE; TO AMEND THE DEFENCE ACT 1954 TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN POWERS OF THE DEFENCE FORCES IN RELATION TO SAFEGUARDING, PROTECTING AND DEFENDING THE SECURITY OF THE STATE, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DEFENCE FORCES IN AID OF THE CIVIL POWER … PROTECTION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS BY THE DEFENCE FORCES; TO PROVIDE FOR A POWER OF PROVISIONAL ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT IN RELATION TO EXTRADITION REQUESTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE EXTRADITION ACT 1965; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS

affairs; — the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 encompassed neutrality and the requirement known as the "Triple Lock" which means that deployment of Defence Force overseas requires the authorisation of the United Nations (UN), Government and the Dáil; — the Triple Lock is central to the policy of neutrality … electorate want our policy of neutrality retained; — being neutral does not in any way inhibit increasing the capacity and capabilities of the Defence Forces; and — currently there is no upper limit on the number of Defence Force personnel that can be deployed for the purpose of overseas humanitarian

some day. Now that it is gone, they are told it is hard luck. That is simply not good enough. The Defence Forces were mentioned. I have seen no members of the Defence Forces in Leitrim and I have been around a lot of the forests. None … through the forest. We need people to carry tools for the technicians who are going to put up what is necessary. The Defence Forces could do all that work but have not been called out. There is so much we could do. I hear on the radio

questions I get in parts of the country that are still affected by the lack of communications and communication breakdown was whether the Defence Force could have played a greater role in the restoration operation. I acknowledge the Tánaiste has outlined a number of places where the Defence … Force actively participated, but I concur with my colleague, Deputy Daly, that maybe the Defence Forces could have been more relevantly used regarding the homes of people

Byrne, well with their very important work in the Department of Defence. The implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published in November 2023, stated very clearly that the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, needs to be revitalised. For far too long, numbers have … Minister of State outline what particular measures he hopes to take to increase substantially the numbers participating in the important work the Reserve Defence Force carries out throughout the country

Tánaiste and I had an engagement a while ago that was primarily about the Permanent Defence Force. I want to bring to the Tánaiste's attention the issue of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF. It is a seriously depleted organisation that has much greater potential … huge ability to support the Permanent Defence Force in its own right. As of 15 October, the current strength of the RDF is 1,720. We are a long way from the target of 4,500 that has been set for 2028. How are we going to achieve

iontach le cloisteáil go bhfuil an obair sin á déanamh aige. It is great to see the Tánaiste is working collaboratively with the Defence Forces to establish this new unit but we need to see our Defence Forces equipped, trained and empowered to meet these real threats … which, DCU, I just left. They are developing new courses but to develop the talent in our population to work in these new Defence Forces offices we need to introduce new courses which are constantly evolving. As happened when the HSE was hacked, I ask the Minister

kinetic or physical element to something, such as what we had with drones recently, as well as a co-ordinated cyberattack on Defence Forces' equipment, personnel and installations to hinder the ability of the Defence Forces to deal with the kinetic element of it, for example, drone interference … protocol and how recently has it been concluded? Is there an agreed protocol between the National Cyber Security Centre, the Garda and the Defence Forces in terms of how they will respond? Is there a clear plan of action in those instances

Defence (Amendment) Act set out clearly that the UN mandate is required for the deployment of a contingent of the Defence Forces overseas. That was in the middle of the Cold War and at a time of huge international conflict. The veto the UN Security Council can exercise … newspaper articles over the past 12 months calling for the scrapping of the triple lock and neutrality and the full participation of our Defence Forces in combat overseas. Proceeding to scrap the triple lock and shredding not one but two national declarations that the Taoiseach's party drew

reason I raise the issue - the family understand and have been informed of the circumstances by the Defence Forces - is that the individual in question left school after his communion, had no formal education and, in the words of his own family, had severe literacy issues. He found … sanctuary in the Defence Forces. He served there for 22 years and had multiple tours of Lebanon. He was a proud Defence Forces member and was always sure and had told his family that if anything happened him, his beautiful wife and his family would be looked after

commend the men and women of the Defence Forces on the fantastic work they do. In my time as Minister for Defence, my priority will be investing in them and their capabilities, including their ability to respond to emerging threats. It is also important to acknowledge the historic … respond to these types of threats. I mentioned in response to an earlier question the investment that is going into technologies within the Defence Forces to enable them to identify and reject these types of threats. There has been huge investment in recent years in An Garda Síochána

this point we agree. A key priority for Ireland and our Defence Forces, our Naval Service and our country has to be to ensure we have as best an understanding as possible of what happens in our seas, below our waters. A key priority … ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed to get us to the level of ambition 2, LOA2, as defined by the Commission on the Defence Forces, CODF. The CODF recommended the development of a primary radar capability to ensure that Ireland can maintain

role of the de-mining is in respect of training Ukrainian civilian authorities to clear mines. This is done by members of the Defence Forces. Ireland has a particular expertise globally in de-mining. We have been to the forefront of a number of training missions across Africa … still active in Uganda through the United Nations. In the last two years the Defence Forces acquired new de-mining equipment that is top of the range, to ensure that our Defence Forces officers are able to implement that, not only when participating in peacekeeping missions, but also

immediately. One of the things that I want to focus on, which is highlighted in this motion, is the neglect of the Defence Forces. Other colleagues have mentioned it. Again, one side of the House is responsible for the neglect of the Defence Forces … successive Governments. It is not the fault of the triple lock. It is certainly not the fault of the Opposition that the Defence Forces are in the state that they are in now. We support the level of funding that will allow us to build back up retention

fully agree with the Deputy. My Department and the Defence Forces have been working in close collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the health service and the Air Corps to ensure contingency arrangements are in place while we resolve this pinch point. I had a good meeting with … excellent new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Rossa Mulcahy. I wish him well in his role. My management board in the Department of Defence and I had an excellent meeting with him and the leadership of the Air Corps. There is a list of things that

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are also members of that council. Both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have current roles and responsibilities relating to national security, including the fact that the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and the Chief of Staff … range of relevant stakeholders, including both my Departments; the Department of justice; the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; our Defence Forces; the Garda; and the National Cyber Security Centre. The preparation of a draft strategy covers a broad range of national security issues and it will

Defence Forces face challenges. If anybody is going to be decoupling the issues of pay and recruitment, it certainly will not be me. It is very much the case that they are linked. The point I am raising relates to the retention of existing staff and not recruiting … explosive ordnance disposal officers. The cyber, tech, IT and pharmaceutical sectors are seeing staff members being trained by the State and the Defence Forces and understand the benefits of recruiting them. There is not enough in the Defence Forces to keep those personnel. These schemes have been used

discussing the triple lock, we need to be clear what it entails. I agree with an Teachta Callaghan about listening to the Defence Forces, but from my own research – the Minister can correct me if I am wrong – I understand one cannot survey current Defence Forces personnel … children could be surveyed to see what they think. If there is a specific peacekeeping mission and genuine humanitarian emergency where the Defence Forces are needed, and the UN Security Council is being vetoed - it has vetoed multiple peacekeeping missions for many reasons under P5 - then we should

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline any proposals to facilitate greater mobility between the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and Fire Services through the mutual recognition of relevant experience, training and qualifications; and the timeline for any such measures. [73515/26

Garda Síochána, Fire Services or other front line emergency services for the purposes of recruitment, pay, promotion or other employment benefits within the Defence Forces. [73514/26

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Defence the expenditure on the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Defence Forces; the anticipated full cost of the Tribunal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74416/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces properties, lands and buildings disposed of since 2010; and the total proceeds generated. [74311/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the number of trained members of the Defence Forces who have resigned in each year since 2020; and the primary reasons recorded for departure. [74294/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the expenditure incurred by the Defence Forces on recruitment campaigns in each year since 2020; and the net increase or decrease in personnel achieved. [74310/26

Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of females currently in recruit training in each of the three branches of the Defence Forces. [68060/26

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Defence whether four members of the legal team originally appointed to the Defence Forces Tribunal (details supplied) ceased to act during the latter part of 2024, whether by resignation, judicial appointment or otherwise; the name, position and date of departure

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Defence where no formal complaints procedure has been adopted by the Defence Forces Tribunal, the procedure by which complaints already received, or received in the future, concerning the Tribunal’s administration, procedures, services, legal team or treatment of complainants and victim

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Defence whether the Tribunal of Inquiry into Issues Relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces and the Culture Surrounding the Making of Complaints has adopted a formal written procedure for receiving, registering, investigating and determining complaints concerning the tribunal

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Defence whether the Defence Forces Tribunal has appointed any persons specifically to act as independent investigators, separate from its counsel and solicitors; if so, the number appointed, their professional qualifications, terms of appointment and functions; if none have been appointed, whether

response to recent media reports that soldiers’ rations, radar systems and naval guns are among a number of areas to be curtailed by Defence Forces to meet military spending cuts. [68827/26

asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on the numbers of personnel within the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Forces; the figures at each year end from 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68950/26

broken down by service, of extending the Occupational Supplementary Pension to existing members of An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, Fire Service and Defence Forces covered by the single public service pension scheme who must retire before State Pension age. [66446/26

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is consideration being given to decreasing the proposed naturalisation residency requirement increases for serving Defence Force members. [65606/26

further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 7 May 2026, the costs incurred as a result of outsourcing functions formerly performed by the defence forces since 2020; by function outsourced; by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60310/26

essential service, in light of the fact that outsourcing is not only more expensive, it does not allow for nurses to deploy with Defence Forces units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60704/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost in 2027 if the budget for the Defence Forces increased by 15%. [61517/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if her Department runs a tendering process for the supply of fuel to the Defence Forces; the way in which and when a supplier might potentially submit a tender to her Department; if she will provide a list

Minister for Defence to provide an update in relation to the progress of each of the 27 actions arising from the Reserve Defence Forces Regeneration Plan 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62560/26

number of applicants inducted post-trainings, for each of the past five general enlisted and cadetships recruitment competitions across the different defence forces branches, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62559/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence to provide the total numbers of active personnel within the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) for each year for the past ten years; the recruitment targets for the RDF for 2026; the number of applications to the most recent

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding Ireland’s preparedness for a significant cyber-attack on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63030/26

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff, whole-time equivalents in the Defence Forces in June 2016 and in June 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63442/26

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the number of requests received from Cork County Council for Defence Forces support during severe weather and flooding events in each of the past five years; the number granted; the personnel deployed; and if she will make a statement