Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I hope so and the sooner the better.

The delivery of the air doctrine is not in itself a recommendation of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces or the high-level implementation plan. However, doctrinal development is part of the training and education command in the proposed future high-level command and control structure proposed in the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. It is my intention to revert to the Government on the proposed changes to the Defence Forces structures and, in particular, the reform of high-level command and control of the Defence Forces.

This includes the creation of a chief of defence, or CHOD, as supported by a vice-CHOD, with the appropriate military command and control authority of the Defence Forces. Advice has been sought from the Attorney General. Clarification of the Minister's role and the future of the Department of Defence may be required following receipt of that advice. As Minister, I favour the implementation of recommendations 1, 3, 4 and 5 in annex 1, and I presume that the Deputy also has this document, which is basically the implementation strategy for the commission's recommendations. It effectively involves a redesign of the structures of the Defence Forces, how they react with each other, and within that the delivery of a military air doctrine needs to be part of that consideration and it will be.

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