Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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239. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the plans in place to commemorate the centenary of the Defence Forces on 1 October 2024. [27726/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As you will no doubt be aware, the Defence Organisation plays a highly significant and noteworthy role in many State led commemoration ceremonies.

Defence Forces personnel have been to the forefront of the State’s commemorations of the Decade of Centenaries, which began in 2016 with a large scale military parade throughout Dublin city.

2022 was arguably the most significant year for the Defence Forces marking as it did the centenary of 1922, the year in which the National Army was established. In January 2022 the Defence Forces took part in the State ceremony to mark the Centenary of the Handover of Dublin Castle and in August they contributed significantly to a ceremony in Beál na mBláth, Co. Cork to commemorate the centenary of the death of General Michael Collins. Throughout that year commemorations took place countrywide to mark the Centenary of the handover of Military Installations.

In September 2022, the Military Archives and the Military History of Ireland hosted a 2 day conference examining the Military aspects of the Irish Civil War and in April 2023 the book titled “The Irish Defence Forces 1922 – 2022” by Eoin Kinsella was launched.

Most recently a State Ceremony of reconciliation and remembrance of all those who lost their lives in the Irish Civil War took place on 28 May 2023 at the Garden of Remembrance. On the 30^thof July this year there will be a ceremony to rededicate the National Army memorial in Glasnevin cemetery where a plaque will be unveiled to honour the civil war national army dead.

Concerning the commemoration of the centenary of the Defence Forces, a Commemoration Working Group was convened by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy in 2021 and this continues to put forward recommendations for Óglaigh na hÉireann.

While no plans are in place at this time to commemorate the centenary of the Defence Forces in 2024, I can say that the situation will be kept in review.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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240. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of military ships registered to Russia, the United States and China whose presence has been notified to the relevant Irish authorities, or detected by same, in the Irish EEZ in each year since 2008, in tabular form. [27997/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to note that Foreign military ships operating in the Irish EEZ are operating on the high seas and exercise freedom of navigation under international law. There is no requirement for foreign military ships to identify themselves to any Irish Authority whilst in the Irish EEZ.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS). Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific operational matters, however enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure commenced in 2022 and remains ongoing. This enhanced patrolling is being conducted by a mixture of air and naval platforms.