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

Brendan Smith Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
40. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the proposals there are to upgrade and-or provide new accommodation and facilities, including living accommodation, for the permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49234/25]
Grace Boland Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
41. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the provision of accommodation for Defence Force members is being pursued to improve recruitment and retention of members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49115/25]
Shay Brennan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
42. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking regarding the further development of the Reserve Defence Force. [48993/25]
Thomas Gould Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
43. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions taken to improve retention in the Defence Forces. [49210/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
44. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strength of the permanent Defence Forces as of 31 August 2025, or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48978/25]
Edward Timmins Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
45. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress at securing a primary radar system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49099/25]
Ryan O'Meara Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
48. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to a nationwide programme for transition year and third level students, with a view to achieving the target of 11,500 personnel and better representation of women at all levels of the Defence Forces. [48990/25]
Sinéad Gibney Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
49. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces or his Department is keeping data on the number of people leaving the Defence Forces, by service, rank, and when they are leaving; if so, how far back this data goes; if it has been analysed to better understand the reason members are leaving the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49296/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
51. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the interaction he and his Department have had in relation to the changes in the UNIFIL mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48884/25]
Shane Moynihan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
52. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the planned rollout beginning in 2026 of the military radar programme as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49273/25]
Willie O'Dea Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
53. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has examined the extent to which pension entitlements are hindering retention levels in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48985/25]
Malcolm Byrne Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
54. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on his announcement to support the procurement of Jet capability for the State, what developments have occurred in providing the State with its own Air Policing Capability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/25]
Tom Brabazon Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
56. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Forces are developing their drone capability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48980/25]
Malcolm Byrne Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
57. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total number in the Reserve Defence Forces at present; the way in which that compares with five years ago and ten years ago; the measures in place to encourage recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49037/25]
Matt Carthy Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
61. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the required number of nurses, doctors and dentists required by the Army nursing service to operate at full capacity; the number in 2020; and the current number.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48883/25]
Micheál Carrigy Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
62. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if consideration is being given to holding specific recruitment campaigns for people in other sectors and in mid- and later-career stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48826/25]
Joe Neville Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
64. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of students in the most recent intake of cadets into the Defence Forces; the steps his Department is taking to encourage more young people to join; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49123/25]
Sinéad Gibney Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
66. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department is considering redeploying peacekeepers to UNDOF in the next two years, considering the wind down of UNIFIL and expected increases in numbers of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49297/25]
Colm Burke Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
68. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken by his Department to create new accommodation for military personnel in Collins Barracks, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49090/25]
Brendan Smith Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
71. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49233/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
74. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of funding the full implementation of the Working Time Directive, welfare provisions; and the way in which he intends to address this. [49301/25]
Catherine Callaghan Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
75. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will, in the interest of equity, seek an increase in cadets' pay to bring it in line with the starting pay of a 3-star private as both are similarly trained and qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49124/25]
John Paul O'Shea Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
76. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; the efforts being made by his Department to increase recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/25]
Barry Ward Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
78. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding any initiatives that seek to encourage both recruitment and retention of personnel in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/25]
Thomas Gould Written 18 Sep 2025 · to Defence
79. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the pay and conditions of members of the Defence Forces. [49209/25]