Defence Forces

157. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Department's securing of medium lift helicopter, in terms of being able to monitor the seas at speed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43737/26]

158. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Defence for a report on investment in Aiken Barracks since 2020; if the Defence Sectoral Plan to 2030 will also involve investment in the barracks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42811/26]

159. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence the total numbers in the permanent Defence Forces as of 1 June 2026; the way this compares to the end of 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42799/26]

162. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Defence if the proposed legislative changes with regard to international peacekeeping missions by the Defence Forces will stipulate that nothing in the legislation shall be construed as authorising the State to become a member of an international organisation of which it is not already a member; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [427…

163. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the 6,000 personnel who are waiting to be paid €3.7 million in claims under local bargaining agreements, which are agreements that are already made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43739/26]

164. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if she is satisfied with current levels of recruitment and retention in the permanent Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42805/26]

165. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the total capital expenditure allocated for the fast-tracked procurement of Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) ahead of Ireland’s EU Council Presidency; the number of Defence Forces personnel who have completed operational training on these anti-drone systems to date; and if these systems will remain permanently deployed to protect crit…

168. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force personnel currently stationed at Kilworth Camp, Kilworth, County Cork, by rank; her plans to increase the operational capacity or scope of the camp; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43589/26]

170. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the operational impact on the Defence Forces arising from current personnel shortages, particularly in relation to overseas peacekeeping commitments and domestic support to civil authorities; and the measures being taken to ensure capability is not diminished in the short term. [42808/26]

171. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence in the event that the Government removes the triple lock, the new military deployments that are planned that the Government believe would not receive approval from the UN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43668/26]

175. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence her views on concerns from members of the Defence Forces, on the publishing of names of Defence Force officers involved in sensitive operations under EU regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43409/26]

176. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the matter of no adjudicator being in place for the DF conciliation and arbitration scheme since June 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43736/26]

177. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the total number of members of the Defence Forces currently serving on UN or UN mandated missions overseas; the total figure if the UNIFIL mission is excluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42792/26]

179. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence to give an update on the armour modernisation programme; if vehicles have been identified for purchase; the most recent estimated cost of the modernisation effort; and the date by which the vehicles will be delivered to the Defence Forces. [43593/26]

180. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence to discuss the revised defence plan deadlines in the detailed implementation plan for the transformation of the Defence Forces, which have been pushed out again by Government, and which will result in major defence projects, such as the anti-drone CUAS system, being delayed again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4374…

181. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline Ireland’s continued participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43705/26]

349. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Defence if plans to introduce employment protections for private-sector reservists so they can fulfil their service commitments in the Reserve Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43883/26]

350. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of riding instructor posts filled within Defence Forces equitation school; and the normally filled ranks of Defence Forces personnel for these posts. [41804/26]

355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence whether any additional investment is planned for infrastructure upgrades at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, including accommodation, training facilities, and energy efficiency measures. [42296/26]

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has carried out any internal audit since 19 July 2024 of Defence Forces procurement contracts to identify whether any existing equipment, software, communications systems, avionics, sensors or subsystems have links to companies headquartered in Israel or Israeli subsidiaries of multinational companies; and if she will ma…

359. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has issued written guidance to procurement officials following the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 on the treatment of Israeli-linked suppliers, components, software, subsystems or defence-related services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43164/26]

360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether future defence procurement tenders now require bidders to declare whether any proposed component, subsystem, software module, sensor, avionics unit or communications system is manufactured, developed, licensed or maintained by an Israeli-headquartered company or Israeli subsidiary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43165…

361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department distinguishes between direct purchase of military equipment from Israel and the inclusion of Israeli-origin components within platforms purchased from third-country suppliers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43166/26]

362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the statement that there is no intention to purchase military equipment from Israel also applies to Israeli-origin software, sensors, avionics, communications equipment, maintenance services, licences, upgrades or embedded subsystems supplied through third-country prime contractors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4316…

363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any legal advice has been sought by her Department on the procurement implications of the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 for defence contracts involving Israeli-linked suppliers or components; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43168/26]