Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action being taken on the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the future disposition and structures of the Army be regionally balanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14375/23]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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What action is being taken in regard to the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the future disposition of the structures of the Army be regionally balanced-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I was right the first time and wrong the second time. We are on Question No. 8 in the name of Deputy Barry Cowen.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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That is the question I am asking.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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You have informed the Ceann Comhairle that you are taking the question on his behalf.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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That is correct, yes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Excellent. We will not argue about it.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I will keep it tight.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020, which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on 9 February 2022.

The commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces' structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

In July last year, Government approved a high-level action plan in response to the commission's report. As part of this, approval was given for a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to level of ambition 2, as set out in the capability framework devised by the commission, which will entail funding increases to reach a defence budget of circa €1.5 billion by 2028 through the annual Estimates process.

Implementation structures have been put in place encompassing an implementation oversight group, a high-level steering board and an implementation management office to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. The high-level action plan also sets out all the recommendations contained in the report and designates a response of accept, accept in principle, further evaluation or revert.

A number of recommendations contained in the report may impact on the structure of the Defence Forces, including that the structure of the Army be reviewed and, in that context, the disposition of units across the Defence Forces may be considered. The recommendation that the structure of the Army be reviewed was identified as an early action in the high-level action plan. Military authorities are progressing the establishment of an office of Army force design which will undertake the work required to give effect to this recommendation. The implementation management office is working on the production of a detailed implementation plan for the remaining recommendations, which will include those that may assist with informing any decision about an Army headquarters.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. The high-level action plan had a number of recommendations. The Government accepted two and partly accepted a third, namely that the future disposition and structure of the Army be regionally balanced. Why has the Government only partially accepted this or accepted it in principle? The Commission on the Defence Forces was established because on coming into government our party recognised there was a decade of underspend in the Defence Forces and we needed to increase spending and modernise the Defence Forces to make it fit for purpose. The report was published after more than 12 months. When will the Minister be in a position to confirm where the new regional Army headquarters may be located?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Of the 130 recommendations of the commission, 48 have been accepted, 55 have been accepted in principle, 17 are subject to further evaluation and ten are to revert to Government. In respect of areas such as the chain of command and so on, I will revert to Government. In terms of the disposition of units and so on, there is work to be done and significant evaluation is required in respect of those recommendations. Later today, I will publish the up-to-date progress report on the delivery of these recommendations from the commission. It will be some time before a decision is made in respect of the headquarters or regional disposition of the Army.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister has visited a number of barracks since he took up his role as Minister for Defence. We would welcome him to Custume Barracks in Athlone. Given its central location and the fact it was the headquarters for the Western Brigade prior to its disbandment, it is an ideal location for a regional Army headquarters. We would welcome the Minister there so he could see the fine barracks and how it would be an ideal location.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to visiting. I will visit all the barracks, as well as the navy and Baldonnel. I will also meet serving members of the Defence Forces and review progress at various barracks, in terms of infrastructure investment. I was in Kilkenny recently. A fantastic gym has been recently constructed there and we need more of that. We need to modernise the infrastructure in all of our barracks and across the Defence Forces. I look forward to following up on the visit to Custume Barracks. I am well aware of the significant advocacy that has been articulated on its behalf.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I would like to say something regarding substitutions generally. In fairness to Deputies who are here waiting, there is a system. Sometimes it is not perfect. I have the list of substitutions here and it does not encompass the last question. Chairpersons make decisions; I am not undoing that. I am making a general point because it is hard to be consistent when Deputies approach the Chair. It is not fair on the clerks and staff. We are trying to make a decision on the hoof. It is particularly unfair to Deputies who are sitting in the Dáil waiting on their questions. There is a timespan to put in substitutions. That is the end of the lecture. I am trying to be fair to everybody.