Defence Forces

250. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to increase retention levels in the Defence Forces during 2025; her priorities for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72501/25]

251. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the key measures taken to support and expand the Reserve Defence Forces during 2025; her priorities for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72502/25]

297. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding any deployment of Irish personnel (details supplied); the number of personnel, their roles, the duration of their deployment, and the locations of the operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70899/25]

298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if any member of the Defence Forces or other State staff have received or are scheduled to receive training at a location (details supplied); the details of the number of personnel, type of training, and dates training occurred or is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70901/25]

299. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the capacity the Defence Forces have to deal with drone incursions such as the one reported during the visit of President Zelenskyy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70915/25]

300. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the actions she is taking to locate the drones that were reportedly active during the visit of President Zelenskyy (details supplied); if she is confident that they will be found; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70916/25]

301. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the progress since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with a primary radar system capable of detecting and tracking rogue and non-conforming aircraft within airspace controlled by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71254/25]

302. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the efforts made since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with aircraft capable of intercepting and policing rogue or non-conforming aircraft within Irish controlled airspace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71255/25]

303. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to increase the technical and radar operator/controller manpower levels within the Irish Defence Forces; and the success which have achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71256/25]

304. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Defence Forces in Ireland; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71257/25]

305. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify the strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Reserve Defence Forces; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71258/25]

306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to encourage former members of the Defence Forces and, former Defence Forces technicians and other specialists to transfer to the Reserve Defence Forces or to return to uniform in the Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71259/25]

168. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of active members of the Irish Defence Forces broken down per year each year since 2015, by rank, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70252/25]

169. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of civilian employees currently employed by the Irish Defence Forces; the number of staff per year each year since 2015, by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70253/25]

93. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of all branches of the Defence Forces as of 28 November 2025 or the latest date available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68514/25]

94. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Defence the improvements made in salaries and allowances for members of the Defence Forces since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68515/25]

50. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware that 58% of appointments at the rank of commandant in the Army Reserve are vacant; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the equivalent number of vacancies for the Naval Service Reserve is 50% and that there have been no promotions to this rank in over four years, despite qualified candidates having been interviewed; …

52. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies by rank within Defence Forces School of Music; when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [67635/25]

53. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the army will be launched early in the new year. [67636/25]

54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence her views on whether it was necessary for Defence Forces personnel to draw weapons against protesters targeting planes in Shannon owned by a military which provides logistical support to a country that her Government considers guilty of genocide (details supplied). [67999/25]

55. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Defence the existing direct entry, lateral entry and re-entry mechanisms for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force; the number of personnel recruited under these mechanisms in 2025; if she intends creating additional entry pathways; the timeline for delivery of each pathway; and if she will make a statement on the ma…

205. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence to outline plans to ensure that cadet pay is ahead of the minimum wage and that the Defence Forces remain an attractive career path. [66902/25]

207. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces that have availed of the opportunity to continue working after the increase in August 2024 in the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62. [67036/25]

210. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 17 June 2025, if she or her predecessor authorised the use of social media influencers by the Defence Forces for recruitment and communications; and her views on whether there may be conflicts of interest caused by social media accounts advertising careers in the Defence Forces while simulta…

212. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Defence if any military personnel or Department officials attended a recent conference in Israel organised by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on their intensive multifront campaign over the past two years, or any recent training conference or seminars organised by the IDF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67246/25]