John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Earlier in the year, we saw our capabilities to defend our neutrality questioned in respect of the planned naval exercise by Russia off the southern coast. This highlighted many of the deficiencies that have been widely articulated over a considerable period, including in respect of our primary radar capability and our ability to monitor subsea activities. Given the proximity of highly sensitive data cables between Europe and America, we have been badly exposed. Much of what has been identified as lacking, including our primary radar capability, was highlighted in the White Paper in 2015. Unfortunately, there is nothing in this Estimate in terms of building up that capacity. There are major security concerns stemming from the grotesque invasion of Ukraine by Russia and our ability to defend our neutrality in terms of our responsibilities to police our air and waters and the other areas I mentioned. The Minister will say the Commission on the Defence Forces has identified what needs to be done but the White Paper also identified measures that needed to be taken, such as those relating to primary radar capability. There is no provision here for any of that. Will he comment broadly in this regard?

On subhead A15, Defence Forces built infrastructure, construction and maintenance, this committee has embarked on a number of barracks visits, including to Haulbowline, most recently, and the Curragh. While it is welcome to see some capital investment in infrastructure in both locations, it was very evident from our visits that a greater level of investment is required into the future. I am acutely aware of the five-year capital plan but there is no provision in this regard in the plan. The derelict houses that would previously have been used as married quarters are very visible to anyone driving through the Curragh. When I was there, I asked what the intention is for those houses that are lying vacant. We talk about the need to increase the number of women in the Defence Forces, with a high target of 30% rightly set by the commission. What is the plan by the Department and the Minister for the houses in the Curragh? In the midst of a housing crisis, it is crazy for them to be left vacant. Leaving that aside, there is all this talk of making the Defence Forces more family-friendly. Does the Minister not see a role for those houses in that regard? Female members of the Defence Forces have to travel to the Curragh for specific training and be away from young children. Does he not see a role for those houses to be brought back into use to facilitate women in those circumstances? I do not see any plan for their use. Something could be developed along those lines to make the organisation more family-friendly.

My colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, touched on the issue of rations, which was highlighted earlier in the year by PDFORRA. I understand the current ration is €4.20 a day to feed members of the Defence Forces. In 2010, it was €4.80, at which point it was cut to €4.20. Twelve years later, notwithstanding the rate of inflation and everything else, that rate has stayed static and is out of line with other sectors of the public service. Is this issue being looked at and what is being done to address it? Does the Minister consider such a rate to be sustainable and right? For overseas deployment, the ration is something in the region of €6. Members of the Defence Forces have to go overseas to be better fed. There is a serious issue in this regard and it is one that has been highlighted. I want to hear whether it is being looked at with a view to increasing the ration. If I am reading the document correctly, the Estimate proposes a 4% decrease in the allocation for this.