Results 401-420 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department now has two service commitment schemes in place in respect of the Air Corps pilots and Air Traffic Service personnel, the latter having been approved in June last, in response to an issue which had arisen in relation to potential loss of Air Traffic Control personnel. The existing Service Commitment Scheme for pilots, which has proven...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The remuneration of members of the RDF is considered a key enabler of the regeneration and development of the RDF in line with the strategic objective, which is to create a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force both nationally and overseas. All spending of taxpayers funds must be supported by appropriate legislation/sanction. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may know, on April 15th I announced the provision of over €46 million in funding for the construction of a State-of-the-Art new Headquarters and Training Centre for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW). The delivery of this project is in line with the recommendations from the Commission on Defence Forces. The first phase of the project will involve development of a new HQ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Following an operational decision taken by the military authorities earlier this year to restrict operational flight activity at Casement Aerodrome to a 5 day week (12 hours a day) service, I am advised that Air Traffic Control is now operational on a 7 day a week basis 12 hours per day (0800 – 2000). In parallel with a number of HR initiatives I have approved since that decision,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 77 together. A Memorandum of Understanding on aspects of defence cooperation between Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was signed by the then Minister for Defence Simon Coveney and UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in 2015. This MoU provides a framework for developing and furthering bilateral co-operation and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised that there has been no recruitment into the Army Nursing Service (ANS) since the early 1990s. This is in line with the cessation of in-house hospital care in the Defence Forces in favour of external hospitalisation and specialist referral. There has also been an increase in the number of other medical professionals such as Emergency Medical Technicians, Combat Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Medals (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government decided in January 1941 that two Medals should be struck in respect of service during the 1916-1921 period, one for service during Easter Week 1916 and the second for subsequent service up to the Truce of the 11th July 1921. In May 1942 the Government further decided that the second Medal, the Service (1917-1921) Medal, should be issued as follows:Medal with Bar to persons who...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Recruitment and retention of Defence Forces personnel is a key priority for Government. Figures provided for 2024 indicate a stabilisation in numbers. There were 708 personnel inducted in 2024, the highest in over five years. The government has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving recruitment and retention and making the Defence Forces a career of choice. These...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. I can advise the Deputy that since the launch of the Infrastructure Development Plan in January 2020, the following accommodation projects at a combined cost of approximately €49.7m have been completed and 775 beds provided:Casement Aerodrome Modular AccommodationGormanston Camp – Upgrade Block AHaulbowline Refurbishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 76 together. The military authorities have provided the details in the following table that outlines the strength of the RDF as at 31 August 2025. The military authorities also advise that a review of the strength figures is currently underway and therefore the figures below may be subject to change. Year Army Reserve ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 62 and 78 together. The military authorities have advised me that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31 July, the latest date for which this figure is available, stood at 7,540 personnel. Significant progress is being achieved on a number of fronts in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 52 together. A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed in line with the Government’s decision to move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as defined by the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). The CODF recommended the development of a primary...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland engages in Defence Innovation at a European level both through the European Commission schemes including; the European Defence Fund (EDF) and European Defence Innovation scheme (EUDIS) and through the European Defence Agencies programmes including; the European Defence Innovation Network (EDIN) and the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI). The Defence Research, Technology and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The property and land owned by my Department at Knockalisheen, Meelick, County Clare amounts to some 51 hectares. The Deputy may be aware that my Department has given permission to the Office of Public Works for the use of part of this holding as a Direct Provision centre, which has been in operation for a number of years.. In addition, tentage has been erected by the Department of Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces inform me that they have discharge records going back to 1989, which include the details raised by the Deputy in his question. Within the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), the term 'discharge' encompasses personnel who leave for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract, voluntary discharges and also includes the number of trainees who exited. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Naval Service, as at 31 July 2025, the latest date such figures are available, stood at 745 personnel or 68% of an agreed establishment strength of 1,094. The ongoing staffing challenges in the Naval Service are well- documented and to address these a wide range of recruitment and retention initiatives have been introduced....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Retention, as the Deputy will be aware, is not influenced by a single factor, but rather that there are multiple, interconnected factors, which are responsible for retaining people in any organisation. In common with other international militaries and while in a buoyant economy, the Defence Forces is facing a challenging environment at present. Pension entitlements cannot be viewed solely...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the Defence Forces’ operational capability is maintained and developed to enable it to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Capability Development and Equipment Development Planning processes. This is underpinned by significant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones are deployed across the Defence Forces. These are small and medium sized systems which provide...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the following table that outlines the strengths requested. The military authorities have also advised that a review of the strength figures is currently underway and therefore the figures provided below may be subject to change. Year Army Reserve Naval Service Reserve First Line Reserve 2015 ...