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

Mairéad Farrell Written 12 Nov 2025 · to Defence
267. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the additional costs incurred by the Irish Defence Forces for security provided at Shannon Airport due to US military use of Shannon Airport from 2018 to date in 2025. [61625/25]
Eoghan Kenny Written 12 Nov 2025 · to Defence
269. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will direct Defence Forces based in the lower harbour of Cork to write against the proposal for an incinerator in Ringaskiddy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62004/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
1. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; his plans to bring forward a Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60896/25]
Seán Crowe Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
3. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current status of the procurement process for the military primary radar system; if rollout of the system will commence in 2026 and full operational status will be achieved by 2028; if there has been any change in the total cost of approximately €300 million for the programme; if the current training courses for such operations in the Defence Forces…
Paul Murphy Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the triple lock will be retained in view of the support for it demonstrated by the outcome of the presidential election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60858/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
5. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which the shortfall in critical staffing levels in the Defence Forces poses a national security risk; the efforts which are being made to resolve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60898/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
8. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the issue of chaplains, who are without representation despite working for, and being paid by, his Department. [60515/25]
Catherine Callaghan Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
12. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on Ireland's proposed participation in the EU's SAFE initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59616/25]
Paul McAuliffe Oral 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
13. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if as part of the implementation of the working time directive in the Defence Forces, he will provide a timeline for the delivery of the welfare measures under strand 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60386/25]
Catherine Ardagh Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
14. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of new recruits who entered the Defence Forces to date in 2026; the number of persons who left over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60429/25]
Grace Boland Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
15. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the means by which his Department plans to reach level of ambition 3 in defence spending; the specific investments being prioritised to enhance Ireland’s radar, sonar and coastal monitoring systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60488/25]
Edward Timmins Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
16. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to encourage recruitment to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60481/25]
Paul McAuliffe Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
18. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to address the challenges of the single pension scheme for Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60385/25]
Colm Burke Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
21. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on improvements to pay and conditions for members of the Permanent Defence Force arising from the €485 million allocation for defence pay in budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60415/25]
Cormac Devlin Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
23. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on his Department and the Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2025–2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60433/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
25. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress made in all the investigations into the death of a Defence Forces member who was killed on duty in the Lebanon (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60412/25]
Grace Boland Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
26. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to improve gender balance in Defence Forces recruitment, given that only 5% of new recruits in 2024 were women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60489/25]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
28. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the capital works projects currently under way at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny; the estimated cost of each of these projects; when each project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60259/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
29. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress being made to update the Army Pensions Act 1923 following the case of a person (details supplied); if interim solutions are being considered for the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60411/25]
Aisling Dempsey Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
32. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will ensure that the Defence Forces and his Department adhere to their responsibility of providing balancing statements for Defence Forces personnel on an annual basis, in line with signed agreements and Ombudsman for the Defence Forces recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60382/25]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
34. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps his Department is taking to improve pay and conditions of members of the Defence Forces. [60260/25]
Sean Fleming Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
36. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the improvements the revised NDP will mean for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60434/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
38. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the matter of entry level cadet pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60437/25]
Frankie Feighan Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
40. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces’ personnel serving overseas at present; if the number is anticipated to change over the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60379/25]
Albert Dolan Written 6 Nov 2025 · to Defence
41. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to increase officer cadet pay above the minimum wage, and to a level of at least that of all other inductees in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60384/25]