Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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533. To ask the Minister for Defence his priorities for the remainder of his term in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32773/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My main priority will be to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capabilities to fulfil all roles assigned by Government, both at home and overseas. In this context, and within the available resource envelope, decisions to replace equipment and ongoing recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force will prioritise the maintenance of required operational outputs. The defence and security environment has changed significantly in the period since the publication of the last White Paper on Defence. In line with the Government’s decision, work on the preparation of a new White Paper is currently underway. When completed and approved, it will set out a revised policy framework which will underpin Defence provision for the next decade. Accordingly, this project will remain a key priority and is central to identifying and prioritising future policy requirements, and associated operational and capability requirements.

I will be discussing these and a range of other issues with the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces in the coming weeks. Subject to my defining other priorities, work will then commence on the preparation of a new Strategy Statement, which is required in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997.