Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, together.

At its meeting on 10 April, the Government established ten Cabinet committees as follows: children and education and disability; economy and investment; environment and climate action; EU and international affairs; Government co-ordination; health; housing; migration, integration and Ukraine; Northern Ireland; and social affairs and public services. I am a member of all Cabinet committees, as are the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan. There is no Cabinet committee dedicated specifically to defence matters. The Deputies will appreciate that it would be neither possible nor practical to have a dedicated Cabinet committee for each and every policy area.

Defence policies are handled by the Tánaiste and his Department. Matters relating to the Defence Forces and defence policy matters appear frequently on the agenda for Government meetings. They may also be addressed and are addressed, as the need arises, in the framework of other Cabinet committees, including, for example, the Cabinet committees on EU and international affairs; social affairs and public services; and Government co-ordination.

There are also a number of interdepartmental and senior official groups that consider matters relating to the Defence Forces and defence policy, including the implementation group overseeing the commission on defence recommendations, and, as Taoiseach, I am kept apprised of defence and security matters.

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