Defence Forces

92. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if she has met with a group (details supplied); and to detail the work she has carried out to investigate and tackle misogyny in the Armed Forces. [33327/26]

93. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on her actions to date to ensure cadet pay is increased to bring cadets in line with other entrants into the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33214/26]

95. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if she or other Departments have had any discussions with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding a future use for the vacant housing accommodation at the Curragh Camp; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33196/26]

96. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have joined the three branches of the Defence Forces in 2026; the number who have been discharged, retired, or otherwise left service; her views on recruitment in 2025 and 2026; her plans to increase or incentivise recruitment in 2026 and 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33213/26]

97. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the reason Ireland’s €19 million anti-drone system which was initially intended to be in place in time for the EU presidency is now not expected to be in operation until September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33419/26]

99. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the improvements planned for Stephens Barracks under the €1.7 billion Defence National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33259/26]

100. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the progress of legislation under the Strategic Framework for the Defence Forces which underpins the appointment and status of military chaplains, including mechanisms for representation by a Defence Forces representative association; and in the absence of such legislation, how protected military chaplains who deploy o…

101. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the fact that no adjudicator has been in place for the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme since June 2025. [33407/26]

104. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on her commitment to produce legislation to underpin the appointment of and status of military chaplains including mechanism for representation by a Defence Forces representative association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33415/26]

105. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the current total number of members of the Reserve Defence Forces, based in each county, and the corresponding figures for 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. [33099/26]

106. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline any improvements to pay and working conditions for members of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32728/26]

108. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the timeframe for legislation to underpin the appointment and status of military chaplains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33121/26]

109. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Departments securing of a medium lift helicopter, in terms of being able to monitor our seas at speed. [33409/26]

110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide necessary benefits and improve the quality of work for Defence Forces personnel in accordance with the European Social Charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33102/26]

111. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on the current situation in South Lebanon; the current activities and conditions of the Defence Forces on the UNIFIL mission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32718/26]

112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence the timeframe for the appointment of an adjudicator for the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33123/26]

115. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence in view of the deterioration in the geopolitical environment, if consideration will be given to the establishment of forward operating bases in areas which are distant from Army barracks and also considering the long land border we have with a neighbouring jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33329/26]

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date on reviewing the structure of the Army, taking into account the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33328/26]

117. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the issue of chaplains, their terms and conditions and the issue of being without representation despite working for and being paid by her Department. [33406/26]

121. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 24 March 2026, whether the Strategic Workforce Plan currently under development includes consideration of a formal lateral transfer policy for experienced personnel from other militaries; whether any such policy is being actively progressed by her Department or the Defence Forces; whether it is i…

122. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if she will quantify the amount of non-lethal equipment that the Defence Forces have donated to their Ukrainian counterparts since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32714/26]

123. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 24 March 2026, whether the Strategic Workforce Plan currently under development includes consideration of a formal lateral transfer policy for experienced personnel from other militaries; whether any proposals in this regard are being actively examined by her Department or the Defence Forces; and…

124. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the number of recruitment applications the Defence Forces received, approved and rejected in each respective year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32978/26]

127. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the functions formerly performed by the Defence Forces that the Government has outsourced since 2020. [33100/26]

128. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Defence the additional defence and security costs that will arise from protecting the Celtic Interconnector; whether the Defence Forces currently have the capacity to meet the demands associated with protecting this critical subsea infrastructure; if she will outline any planned increases in maritime surveillance and resourcing in response to he…