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

Duncan Smith Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
5. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on a proposed fire station closure at the Curragh Camp; to provide an update on the provision of living quarters for enlisted members in the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/25]
Sinéad Gibney Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
7. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the proposal to remove the triple lock protection for approving overseas deployment of Irish troops; the protections to be put in place to ensure the integrity of Irish peacekeeping operations is maintained in the absence of UN approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6399/25]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
8. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to discuss the need to ensure increased recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6439/25]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
12. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the capital works projects currently under way at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny; the estimated cost of each of these projects; when each project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/25]
Shane Moynihan Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
13. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an overview of the procurement of additional assets for the Air Corps and the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5668/25]
James Geoghegan Oral 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
14. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on whether there is a need to enhance the community use of the playing pitches at Cathal Brugha Barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6099/25]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
16. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of active and inactive members of each of the branches of the Defence Forces, for each of the past 20 years, and the establishment numbers which is the target number for the Defence Forces in those years. [5286/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
17. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the Institute for Peace Support and Leadership training in the Curragh proposed in the 2015 White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6068/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
19. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current involvement of Irish Defence Forces personnel in UNIFIL missions in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5944/25]
Noel McCarthy Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
20. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the strength of the Defence Forces in each respective year from 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6083/25]
Catherine Connolly Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
21. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the progress of the Defence Forces tribunal; the details of the resources allocated to the tribunal; the number of support and administrative staff appointed to the tribunal; the details of the legal supports, if any, provided to people making submissions to the tribunal; the cost to date of the tribunal; and if he will make a …
Catherine Connolly Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
22. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the ways in which Ireland has cooperated and collaborated with NATO since it became a member of Partnership for Peace in 1999; to detail chronologically the escalating relationship between Ireland and NATO since that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/25]
Matt Carthy Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
23. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the current number within each service; and his targets for recruitment, by year, for 2025 to 2030. [5746/25]
James Geoghegan Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
25. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects the report by the Defence Forces in relation to the suitability for renovation of the derelict homes owned by his Department at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6098/25]
Brendan Smith Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
29. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total enlistment in the permanent Defence Forces from 2019 to 2024; the measures that will be implemented this year to increase recruitment and improve retention of personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6101/25]
Noel McCarthy Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
31. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures his Department is taking to encourage recruitment to the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6084/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
32. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans in place for the residential units in the Curragh Camp; if he is aware that some of them are semi-derelict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6067/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
33. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will detail the most recent interaction there has been with the United Nations regarding the death of a person (details supplied); the work being done to expediate the response from the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5943/25]
Richard Boyd Barrett Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
38. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to detail any cooperation between his Department and NATO, including, but not limited to, PESCO and the EU Common Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/25]
Catherine Connolly Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 5 February 2025, if Ireland intends to purchase military equipment from Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/25]
Martin Daly Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
42. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when a decision on a location for the Army headquarters will be made; if Custume Barracks, Athlone, will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6070/25]
Shane Moynihan Written 26 Feb 2025 · to Defence
46. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for the position with regard to the proposed changes to the Defence Forces' structures, in particular the reform of high-level command and control of the Defence Forces, as set out in the Commission for Defence Forces report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5667/25]
Duncan Smith Written 25 Feb 2025 · to Defence
224. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of accommodation units by the Defence Forces, the number currently in use; the plans for the development of new accommodation for officers and enlisted personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7178/25]
Duncan Smith Written 25 Feb 2025 · to Defence
225. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount invested into improving barracks accommodation each year since 2016; the number of units each year that were refurbished; the number planned for refurbishment over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7179/25]
Duncan Smith Written 25 Feb 2025 · to Defence
226. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if refurbished barracks accommodation are being fitted with solar panels; if the investment in Collins Barracks, Cork will include the installation of solar panels or other energy efficient technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7180/25]