Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Defence his priorities for the remainder of the Government's current term of office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34574/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In July, when the Government published its revised set of priorities or its revised programme for Government, there was no mention of defence. The question gives the opportunity to the Minister to set out his personal priorities for the remaining term of the Government.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to do this. My immediate priority will be to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capability to fulfil all roles assigned to them by the Government, both at home and overseas. In this context, and within the available resource envelope, decisions to replace equipment and ongoing recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force will prioritise the maintenance of required operational outputs. The preparation of the new White Paper on defence is also a key priority, with the objective of setting the policy framework for defence for the next ten years. I believe this is a critical aspect of Government policy and I am determined to ensure that the new White Paper fully addresses the defence response to future security challenges in a comprehensive way.

The White Paper process provides an opportunity to critically examine future demands and consider how we might best meet associated operational requirements. I am conscious that many of the day-to-day services delivered by the Defence Forces are cross-cutting in nature and I am determined to ensure that defence resources and expertise are leveraged to maximum effect for the benefit of the State.

I intend to conclude the White Paper on defence and I would genuinely like Opposition input. I cannot assure the Opposition that I will agree with everything, but I would like input. There is much we can do to modernise the role of the Defence Forces in terms of its interaction with Irish companies and using the Defence Forces infrastructure as a test bed for new technology and new innovation. That is already happening in places such as Haulbowline and the Curragh. We need to question existing State infrastructure that operates in partnership with the Defence Forces, and maybe we could look at more efficient structures, such as interaction between the Naval Service and the Irish Coast Guard. There is a significant debate to be had. We need to review in an ambitious way Ireland's role in peacekeeping and conflict resolution. I look forward to the debate and I assure Members that I will be an active Minister for Defence in the relatively short time I will have between now and the next election.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I wonder whether there is a message in that about the relatively short time to the next election.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is a short time for the Deputy's supplementary question and he would want to get on with it.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. He mentioned the White Paper, which is of vital importance. When does the Minister expect to publish it? Many of us have made submissions. The Minister talked about recruitment and equipment, and this gives rise to financing. When the Minister received his briefing documents in July, they indicated that in terms of GDP, Ireland provides to its Defence Forces about half the level of funding provided by other neutral countries such as Sweden and Finland. Is that something the Minister will address?

We speak frequently about the Irish public's awareness of the value of the overseas service of our Defence Forces and how proud we are of everything they do abroad. Does the Minister see himself highlighting the valuable contribution of the Defence Forces at home?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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For many years I have been highlighting what the Naval Service does in respect of fishing. Somebody questioned the link between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Defence in respect of the same Minister having responsibility for the both Departments. For many years and across a number of Governments, the marine and defence areas were linked because of the role of the Naval Service in fisheries protection.

I want to raise the profile of our Defence Forces from the point of view of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. Very few people serve the State in the way the Defence Forces do. It is a form of patriotism that we do not see in too many Irish people. Our Defence Forces perform an extraordinarily professional role at home and abroad and it is something that is taken for granted by people, but it should not be.

The White Paper on defence is an opportunity to highlight the service and talk about it in the future. I hope to have a draft on my desk by the end of the year so that we can have an active discussion in the new year about developing, amending and improving the draft.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to how we address the issues in this House. I recall being Chairman of the Oireachtas committee on health in the previous Dáil when we found it extremely useful that the Minister and the officials from the Department of Health and the HSE came in every quarter to give the committee a presentation. I do not suggest this in respect of the Department of Defence but I ask if the Minister and his officials would consider coming before the justice and defence committee twice a year to update us on matters relating to the Department of Defence, the service abroad and at home and what the Minister is doing to develop the role of the Defence Forces.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree absolutely. I have been very anxious to attend the committee and I have been speaking to Deputy Stanton in this regard. I am aware that Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has asked for me to brief the committee on UNDOF which I intend to do but it is a question of finding an appropriate time to suit my timetable and that of the committee. I refer to my interaction with the agriculture committee over the past number of years which shows that I am very open to discussion and I try to take on board views and ideas which I regard them as credible and sensible. I hope to be before the defence committee at least twice a year, if not more frequently.