Defence Forces

313. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason for the apparent decline in the percentage and number of female inductees to the Permanent Defence Force in 2024 compared to previous years; if a strategy is in place to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40759/25]

319. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the mechanisms that are in place to support veteran groups of the Defence Forces situated in the North, particularly around commemorations and acts of remembrance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41217/25]

320. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence considering that the Government have significantly increased the Defence Forces budget, the procedures he intends to put in place to ensure Ireland's defence procurement spend stays within the Irish economy, benefitting our indigenous SMEs and research sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41293/25]

321. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the percentage of the current defence procurement spend that goes to indigenous Irish companies, research sectors and universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41294/25]

326. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way in which he will ensure that current procurement process and guidelines for the Defence Forces will not hinder the quick and efficient implementation of both LOA2 and LOA3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41390/25]

335. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding any initiatives that seeks to encourage both recruitment and retention of personnel in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41782/25]

336. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41783/25]

337. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the proposed increase in defence spending over the next five years, particularly in view of the recent commitment by many European countries to significantly increase their defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41784/25]

341. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position on recent risk assessments carried out this year on the safety impact to Irish peacekeeping troops serving in Lebanon on their monitoring of the blue line between Lebanon and Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42157/25]

344. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to increase the number of females applying under any future Defence Forces recruitment campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42160/25]

348. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to ensure that housing in barracks around the country is used. [42538/25]

350. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of vacant posts for dentists, nurses and doctors within the Defence Forces Medical Corps; the timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/25]

352. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of initiatives to promote the recruitment and retention of women in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43038/25]

358. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the investigations into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43413/25]

359. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on peacekeeping operations involving members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43414/25]

360. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if will outline the engagement his Department has had with the UN authorities in relation to the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43415/25]

362. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the plans for the improvement of the pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43417/25]

363. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43418/25]

364. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the resourcing and recruitment needed to achieve LOA2; to provide a timeline for this in year on year targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43419/25]

370. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any European counterparts have pressured his Department to increase defence spending to align more closely with NATO targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43624/25]

371. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date figures relating to Defence Forces personnel who have left the Defence Forces, broken down by service, rank, reserve or non-reserve status, by month, from the period 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43625/25]

375. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current height restrictions in the Defence Forces; if the possibility has been examined of reducing these, either in full or with regard to certain roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43793/25]

376. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of the reported increase in Russian ‘shadow ships’ operating in Irish-controlled waters in recent months; the actions the Defence Forces are taking to monitor these vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43814/25]

377. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any additional resources or measures are being considered to strengthen maritime security and surveillance in response to the presence of foreign state-linked vessels in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43815/25]

378. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure for each branch of the Permanent Defence Forces; the actual number for each year 2019 to date; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43832/25]