Topics / Defence Forces

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

1,115 questions from 105 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.

1,115
questions
1,048 written, 67 oral
105
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
6
departments asked

Questions per month

The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.

Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
MonthQuestions
January 20259
February 202558
March 202527
April 202523
May 202547
June 202583
July 202555
August 20250
September 202591
October 202536
November 202577
December 202585
January 202633
February 2026120
March 202634
April 202630
May 2026108
June 202674
July 202687
August 20260
September 202624
October 202614

Who asks, by party

The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.

  • 100% RDR4 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú20 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil311 from 31 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael202 from 22 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party12 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent36 from 6 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland82 from 2 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party98 from 8 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity18 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin270 from 25 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 80
  2. 76
  3. 41
  4. 41
  5. 39
  6. 34
  7. 30
  8. 24

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Peadar Tóibín Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
109. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on the status of backdated allowances owed to members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW); to specify the total amount of arrears currently outstanding; the timeline for the resolution of these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33170/26]
Peadar Tóibín Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the reason her Department has reportedly refused to pay ARW arrears incurred between 2006 and 2018 despite the awarding of these payments; the number of current and former personnel affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33171/26]
Peadar Tóibín Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
113. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) recommendation regarding the introduction of long service increments for enlisted personnel; if she will explain the reason this measure remains under 'further evaluation' since July 2022 despite the ongoing retention crisis; and if she will commit to an immediate implementation date to stabilise…
Peadar Tóibín Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence to state her Department's position on the payment of five-figure arrears owed to serving and retired members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) and Defence Forces Chefs arising from historical allowance agreements; the reason these payments are being withheld from retired veterans who served during the relevant periods; the impact this perceived lack of respect has …
Catherine Callaghan Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
116. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Carlow in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33342/26]
Joe Neville Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
118. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces that are currently on active peace keeping missions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33428/26]
Catherine Callaghan Written 6 May 2026 · to Defence
119. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Kilkenny in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33459/26]
Carol Nolan Written 30 Apr 2026 · to Defence
212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the mandate of Ireland's participation in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in the Lebanon; her views on whether the mission has succeeded in any of its aims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31709/26]
Aidan Farrelly Written 30 Apr 2026 · to Defence
213. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update in respect of integrating strategic risk systems in the context of enhancing the robustness of critical entities. [31745/26]
Sinéad Gibney Written 30 Apr 2026 · to Defence
215. 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]
Duncan Smith Written 29 Apr 2026 · to Defence
32. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if she will consider allowing people who have moved to Ireland under an EU Directive (details supplied) to join the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31068/26]
Seán Crowe Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
314. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence to report on the sale of a carriers (details supplied), the personnel carriers from the Civil Defence vehicle fleet; and the replacement vehicles that are being secured to ensure that there is not a loss of capability in Civil Defence transport needs. [29560/26]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
315. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence the nature of refurbishment works that are scheduled to be carried out at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, this year; the estimated cost of each project, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29637/26]
Paul Donnelly Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
316. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if permission is required from her for the participation of members of the Irish Defence Forces in foreign military 'competitions'. [29787/26]
Paul Donnelly Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
317. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of Irish Defence Forces members participating in military competitions with the Israeli Defence Forces; and if confirmed, her views on such on participation. [29788/26]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
318. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the nature of refurbishment works that are scheduled to be carried out at Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny during 2026, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30015/26]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
319. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence the criteria for a person to be inducted as a member of the Defence Forces legal services club. [30077/26]
Alan Kelly Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
320. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the estimated amount the armoured vehicle programme will cost the Irish taxpayer over its full lifetime, including infrastructure, personnel, maintenance and training, not just the purchase price of armoured vehicles. [30233/26]
Séamus McGrath Written 28 Apr 2026 · to Defence
334. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Defence to amend the regulations governing entry to the first line reserve Defence Forces to address the issues in correspondence (details supplied) [30942/26]
William Aird Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Defence
294. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure that the Defence Forces are adequately staffed and resourced to meet current and emerging security challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29257/26]
William Aird Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Defence
295. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the current status of recruitment and retention initiatives within the Defence Forces; the measures being considered to address ongoing personnel shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29258/26]
William Aird Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Defence
296. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the level of investment being allocated to the modernisation of Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure; the timeline for the delivery of key capability upgrades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29259/26]
William Aird Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Defence
297. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the extent of Ireland's participation in international peacekeeping missions; the plans to expand or reduce such commitments in the coming period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29260/26]
Catherine Callaghan Written 22 Apr 2026 · to Defence
33. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the status of Operation Althea; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29086/26]
Conor D McGuinness Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Defence
353. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the number of heavy vehicle recovery trucks purchased for the Defence Forces in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; the number of those heavy vehicle recovery trucks withdrawn from the fleet in the same period, in tabular form. [28020/26]