Defence Forces

39. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason the arrangements between the Defence Forces and the Maltese Defence Forces whereby Maltese cadets receive training at the Curragh Camp has ceased; when this occurred; if he has plans to recommence the bilateral arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/25]

40. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a list of all missions since 2006 that Ireland participated in which were not established by the UN but received a UN Mandate, by year, number of troops deployed, and purpose of mission, in tabular form. [31105/25]

41. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a list of all missions, including those which were authorised under section 3 of the Defence Amendment Act 2006, since 2006 that Ireland participated in which did not have a UN mandate, by year, number of troops deployed, and purpose of the mission, in tabular form. [31106/25]

42. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date figures relating to Defence Forces recruitment of personnel broken down by service, rank and 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. [31107/25]

43. 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 and 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. [31108/25]

273. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Irish Defence Force's army force design process; when it will be completed; when will the results be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/25]

274. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will confirm that qualified members of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service can enter promotion competitions for chief of staff and both deputy chief of staff positions. [29447/25]

275. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will confirm that qualified members of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service were previously able to serve as assistant chief of staff but that this is no longer the case. [29448/25]

276. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when Defence Forces regulations were amended prohibiting suitably qualified members of the Air Corps and Naval Service from filling the role of assistant chief of staff; the rationale for this decision; and if, in view of the emphasis of the Commission on the Defence Forces on the need for truly joint high-level leadership and th…

278. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on his plans to replace the Mowag Piranha and RG32M; the number of armoured vehicles the Defence Forces require following the recommendation of the Defence Forces Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29593/25]

281. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the advertisement budget allocated to the permanent Defence Forces in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30289/25]

282. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on purchasing specialist military equipment from German based companies in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [30393/25]

284. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current protocol regarding the national flag being on the coffin of serving members of the Irish Defence Forces or former members; the position regarding the flags being on coffins inside a church; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30431/25]

273. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will increase the maximum age to join the reserve Defence Forces to 43; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/25]

89. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28357/25]

157. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence following the conclusion of the Study Group on Defence Forces Standards of Colour Deficiency’s work, if the recommendations made have been considered by relevant personnel in the Defence Forces; if they have considered a pass in city university colour test, considered a ‘grade 2’, being sufficient for entry; and if these report r…

158. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence following his recent comments regarding recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces and his commitment to optimising and making necessary changes to the process, if his Department have reviewed the work of the Study Group on Defence Forces Standards of Colour Deficiency; if his Department has engaged with the Defence Forces w…

255. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the policy of the Defence Forces relative to granting transfers on compassionate grounds where a member has an immediate requirement to be stationed close to home for family reasons; the number of such applications being processed currently; the number of such applications made in each of the past five years; the number approv…

256. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the policy of the Defence Forces regarding the recruitment of people with autism and ADHD to the permanent and reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25173/25]

257. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the ages of horsebox vehicles currently in use by Defence Forces equitation school; if funding is available in 2025 for the purchase of additional horsebox vehicles. [25356/25]

258. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount the Defence Forces spent on replacement of musical instruments for the Defence Forces school of music in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; the name of the company that was awarded the contract to supply musical instruments to the school. [25357/25]

260. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces general service body armour (GSBA) that is currently in service throughout the Defence Forces, including in overseas missions, was first issued to members in 2006; if, given that these systems degrade overtime, and trials to replace the current system began in 2017, the current GSBA worn by troops overseas …

341. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are carrying out exercises in the St. Bridget’s Campus, Ballinasloe; if so, the reason residents were not notified as there was loud noises during the night; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23249/25]

343. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the status of the scheme; if there are any plans to return the payment to its original status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23708/25]

347. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if it is the policy of the State to purchase military equipment from other militarily neutral states; if this policy has been revised in recent years; and his views on the state's procedures and priorities in acquiring foreign military equipment. [23734/25]