Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The campaign was launched in March of last year and 1,000 applications were received. Ninety additional new members were inducted in 2022, all of whom were inducted into the Army Reserve. The Defence Forces are responsible for ongoing recruitment to the RDF. I will meet the Chief of Staff and military management shortly in respect of this matter, and we will just have to move. They are very willing. To me, it is an important part of the issue, as per the commission’s recommendations.

The White Paper and the commission report contained recommendations on the future role and structure of the RDF. Prior to the meetings on Monday, we got confirmation from military management that an office of reserve affairs has been established to develop a regeneration plan for the Reserve and a colonel has been allocated to the post, which had not happened before this week. Planning by the military authorities has commenced to establish an office of reserve affairs, ORA, which will drive the further recommendations of the commission.

The Deputy asked for figures relating to female members and so on. Again, initiatives have been taken to increase the number of women joining the Defence Forces, such as the launch of a strategic campaign with a specific objective of increasing the induction of women into the organisation. In addition to traditional media, the campaign is supported by social media posts using serving female personnel who have shared their experiences. The military authorities further advise that potential applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds are included in the target demographics the Defence Forces seek to reach in regular campaigns. In 2021, the proportion of those inducted who were women was 7.6%, while in 2022, that figure was 8.5%. Equivalent figures for the preceding years were 7.8% for 2020, 7.3% for 2019 and 8.2% in 2018. Ultimately, we want to improve those levels. Significant work is needed in respect of female induction and the progression of women within the Defence Forces, as well as on ensuring dignity, respect and so forth within the workplace and providing opportunities to reach the highest echelons of the Defence Forces. We are not there yet. The commission report, as the Deputy will be aware, recommends the creation of a full-time, senior-rank position of gender adviser with a dedicated staffing resource, the creation of a mechanism to ensure there is female participation at all meetings at general staff level, and setting an overall female participation rate of 35% to be achieved through a combination of entry-level inductions and civilianisation. A significant agenda, therefore, is ahead of us, but in respect of the first two recommendations, we have said we want them to be carried out as soon as possible.

We will revert with figures on the mandatory selection procedures. I am not clear as to whether the figures are yet available, but we will ask the military authorities about them.

I have not picked up a sense that there is an issue broadly with overseas deployment. I mentioned our participation in the EU battle group, which will be in 2024 and 2025. That may have implications, not for UNIFIL but we will have to examine other locations.

We see the battle group as a priority in terms of our participation in the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, within Europe. Germany is leading this battle group. I wanted to make an early decision on this so there could be proper preparation for this battle group and we could signal to our German colleagues and our other colleagues in the EU that we would be participating, just as we have participated in battle groups since 2000. This may have implications for other forces, but this will be confirmed in the coming while.

Turning to Cathal Brugha barracks, the background to this is the housing crisis. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has articulated a view. He would see the entire site as ideal for future housing development because of compact living and all the services being there, including utilities etc. On the other hand, the Defence Forces require a state-of-the-art barracks in the Dublin area. The Government has taken no decision on the relocation of Defence Forces' operations at Cathal Brugha barracks. That is the factual position. No decision has been made. Last year, however, the Department of Defence received funding of about €250,000 from the Department of An Taoiseach under the Housing for All implementation fund to engage consultants in undertaking a cost-benefit analysis, CBA, and feasibility study concerning the possible relocation of Cathal Brugha barracks. An interdepartmental steering group was established. The Deputy can see where this is going.This group is to oversee the CBA-feasibility study. A tender competition was run in late 2022. There are now negotiations under way in terms of the outcome of that tender. It will take approximately six months to complete the CBA-feasibility study. All relevant stakeholders will be briefed as the project progresses, including the Defence Forces' representative associations and civilian employees.

To give the Deputy my view, we have to protect the capability and capacity of the Defence Forces. The only possible quid pro quoin this context would be, before anything happens, the creation of a modern, bespoke state-of-the-art barracks for the Defence Forces prior to any change in the status of Cathal Brugha barracks. This is doable, by the way. We need joined-up thinking and people to stop thinking in silos within different Departments or establishments. This should be done comprehensively and professionally. I want this process accelerated a bit and I want to get an outcome regarding the feasibility of this suggestion. It is an idea that has now been articulated. I accept it can be unsettling to the personnel of the Defence Forces in terms of uncertainty. The bottom line, however, is that nothing will happen to Cathal Brugha barracks until an alternative barracks is in place. This is the bottom line.

This idea is not one we should turn our backs on, however. We are now in 2023 and the 21st century and we must be thinking in these terms. The instinct perhaps within the Defence Forces and the military is to say this is something we should not even consider and let us kill it now before it starts. I actually think, however, that this might be seen as an opportunity to be explored, and if people really want this site for something, then the question would be what they are prepared to do as an alternative. This would be my test for the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and everybody else, and I am someone committed to housing.

This is the only basis on which this discussion can be had. The morale of the Defence Forces is important. We cannot treat the Defence Forces as an organisation from which we can take resources and get by. This is not the case anymore. As far as I am concerned, our job now is to expand, increase the capability of, modernise and transform the Defence Forces culturally and right across all aspects. I do not mean this in a negative way but to do this in a positive way. This is how I am approaching this issue. I am telling people to get on with the feasibility study, tell us what the bottom line is here and then we will make decisions based on that information.