Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 56 and 84 together.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. Following the publication of the report of the independent review group on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set out my priority to develop one strategic framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces in order that it would be fully understandable to everyone.

The strategic framework, which I published in September 2023, brings together into one overarching document the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces. My priority within this transformation is cultural change above all else. The end goal of this cultural change is to ensure that the Defence Forces is an equal opportunities employer, reflective of contemporary Irish society and is providing a safe workplace where self-worth is actively promoted, mutual respect becomes a dominant feature, and all members are treated with dignity in an organisation that continuously evolves to deliver positive change.

The detailed implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, which was published on 21 November last, forms a core element of the overarching strategic framework and achieving this end goal. The publication of the detailed implementation plan is a further important step on this journey and builds on the publication of the commission report itself in February 2022, the high level action plan in July 2022 and the early actions update published in March 2023. This plan sets out an ambitious programme of work to move to level of ambition 2 by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the commission’s recommendations, which span strategic human resources and cultural change; the establishment of new command and control and joint structures; reform and restructuring of services; a revitalisation of the Reserve Defence Force; and the implementation of joint capability development.

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