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

Pearse Doherty Written 25 Sep 2025 · to Defence
188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated level of defence spending that will be needed in 2028 in order to reach €1.5 billion in 2022 prices; the amount that would be required in 2026 in order to reach €1.5 billion in 2022 prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50860/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 24 Sep 2025 · to Defence
7. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the nature of refurbishment works that were carried out at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk in 2024 and to-date in 2025; if any of these capital works projects are still ongoing; when these works will be completed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50730/25]
Albert Dolan Written 23 Sep 2025 · to Defence
136. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide a list of all chronic illnesses and medical conditions that currently preclude members of the Defence Forces from serving; whether there have been any exceptions made to allow personnel who develop such chronic illness to remain in the service; and his views on whether members of the Defence Forces who develop chronic illnesses during the…
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
1. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to ensure sufficient funding is provided to resource Joint Induction Training Centre, JITC, Gormanston, Baldonnel, Haulbowline and DFTC infrastructure master plans. [49298/25]
Sinéad Gibney Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
4. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the consultation he has had with rank and file members of the Defence Forces in relation to the potential changes to their terms and conditions in the general dcheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025, which has recently concluded pre legislative scrutiny, particularly in the context of potentially more dangerous operational parameters of non-UN sa…
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
5. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline his proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; when he intends to bring forward a Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49300/25]
Catherine Callaghan Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
6. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will, in the interests of equity, seek an increase in cadets' pay to bring it in line with the starting pay of a three-star private given both are similarly trained and qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49483/25]
Shay Brennan Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
9. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on plans for a properly resourced office of veterans' affairs. [48992/25]
Noel McCarthy Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
13. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount of funding allocated for the development of Defence Forces infrastructure in each of the past five years, the number of projects completed in that period, the number under way and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49093/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
15. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of residential Defence Forces buildings that are currently not habitable, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49304/25]
John Connolly Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
16. Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total number of members of the Irish Defence Forces currently deployed to the UNIFIL mission; and the number of further deployments of Irish troops that are expected to fulfil the mission prior to the projected conclusion of the mandate in December 2026. [48426/25]
Shane Moynihan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
18. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the review of the first masterplan for Airside in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, by officials in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49272/25]
Maeve O'Connell Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
19. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report the work of his Department in responding to the decision to withdraw the international peacekeeping force in Lebanon in 2027. [49119/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
20. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the action he is taking to improve retention levels in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/25]
Grace Boland Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
22. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the progress of recruitment campaigns for school leavers and women into careers in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49114/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
23. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress his Department has made regarding the establishment of a joint cyber-security command and other actions related to cyber-security contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [49303/25]
Matt Carthy Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
24. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the total number of personnel in 2019; and the current total number of personnel. [48882/25]
Cathal Crowe Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
25. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that military uniforms can only be worn by members of the permanent and reserve Defence Forces, and that for all other uses, such as filmmaking and re-enactment, a licence would have to be obtained from his Department; if he will extend such legislation to include a prohibition on the wearing of m…
Aindrias Moynihan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
29. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans for continuing engagement with the UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, for a further extension to the Security Council’s current renewal of the UNIFIL mandate for 12 months, to 31 August 2026, given the ongoing volatile situation in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49280/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
30. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49302/25]
Albert Dolan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
31. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on payments and remuneration for members of the Reserve Defence Forces; and to explain the changes that have taken place in recent years. [49214/25]
Naoise Ó Muirí Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
32. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the planned new training centre for the Army Ranger Wing of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48911/25]
Tony McCormack Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
35. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his response to the recent decision by the UN Security Council in relation to the UNIFIL Mandate. [48983/25]
Paul Lawless Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
36. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the Army nursing service; the decision to outsource to private contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49294/25]
Ryan O'Meara Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
38. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the means by which he is examining incentives and structural changes to make a military career accessible to a wider range of candidates, and to encourage existing personnel to extend their military careers, including rewarding long service and broadening eligibility criteria. [48991/25]