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

Seán Fleming Written 10 Jun 2025 · to Defence
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]
John Brady Written 29 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Ryan O'Meara Written 28 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Ryan O'Meara Written 27 May 2025 · to Defence
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 recommendations are s…
Ryan O'Meara Written 27 May 2025 · to Defence
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 with the aim of imple…
John McGuinness Written 20 May 2025 · to Defence
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 approved; the number of se…
Sinéad Gibney Written 20 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Alan Kelly Written 20 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Alan Kelly Written 20 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Peadar Tóibín Written 20 May 2025 · to Defence
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 is safe; and when de…
Claire Kerrane Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Niamh Smyth Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Pat Buckley Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
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]
Paul Donnelly Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
359. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Army will be launched in quarter three 2025. [24271/25]
Pádraig O'Sullivan Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
361. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made in implementing the long service increments, contained in the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24313/25]
Pádraig O'Sullivan Written 13 May 2025 · to Defence
362. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many lance corporal ranked positions have been created in 2023, 2024, and 2025 year to date, in tabular form; what other retention tools have been deployed over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24314/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
152. 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. [18075/25]
Duncan Smith Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
153. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the planned negotiations for a radar detection system; the expected cost of the system; a timeline for the delivery of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23068/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
158. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to radically restructure Defence Forces recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/25]
Ryan O'Meara Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
160. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the professional instructor payment will be paid to commissioned officer instructors in the Defence Forces, as committed to by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/25]
Darren O'Rourke Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
162. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline his plans for investment at Gormanston Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
163. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's plans this year for funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/25]
Tony McCormack Oral 8 May 2025 · to Defence
164. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current recruitment and retention challenges facing the Defence Forces; the measures being taken to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17650/25]
Joe Neville Written 8 May 2025 · to Defence
173. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views as to the most positive steps that could be taken to ensure the Defence Forces are funded, equipped, and supported in the face of evolving global security steps. [18001/25]
John Lahart Written 8 May 2025 · to Defence
175. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on recruitment to the Defence Forces across the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17829/25]