Results 481-500 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I have previously indicated that this is a difficult case and that I wish to see it resolved. I have been informed that resolution of this matter will require legislative change. My officials are actively pursuing measures to enable this matter to be progressed as expeditiously as possible, including a possible adminstrative solution. I will provide an update to you, and directly to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made, in terms of the pay and conditions for Defence Force personnel, particularly over the last six (6) years. In addition, under the current national pay deal, the Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026, a further 1% increase in basic pay, as well as allowances in the nature, which came into effect on 1 August 2025, will have a further positive financial...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. The military authorities have advised me that as of 30 July 2025, the latest date for which such information is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,540. As the Deputy is aware, in July 2022, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2) as set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight Commissioned vessels. Four of the vessels are available for operations, including the three P60 class vessels which conduct patrols on a rotation basis. In addition to the three P60 class vessels, the L.É. Aoibhinn (P71) is also deployed on Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO). Extensive work is ongoing to oversee a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks including maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, search and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. My Department routinely publishes details of Purchase Orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000, on foot of a previous Programme for Government commitment and in accordance with the FOI Model Publication Scheme & Guidance published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This Scheme requires...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Strategies (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has taken the lead in the development of a National Maritime Security Strategy following identification of maritime security as a priority in last year’s Defence Policy Review. This strategy is being developed in consultation with national and international stakeholders and I look forward to its delivery to me before the end of this year...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 186 together. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. The acquisition, modernisation and upgrade of Defence Forces equipment are considered in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The revised NDP Capital allocation for the Defence Vote Group for the period 2026-2030 is €1,700 million. This represents an increase of €600 million (55%) on the previous baseline of €1,100 million. For 2026, the Defence capital allocation will increase by €85 million to €300 million. Capital Investment in Defence primarily provides for the renewal,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The 2025 Naval Service Cadetship competition was launched in March and closed for applications in April. There are no plans to launch a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service in quarter four of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. There were 130 recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Defence Expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), based on latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) & Defence expenditure data stood at 0.2% of GDP in 2024. It has been acknowledged, and was referenced in the Commission on the Defence Report, that this level of percentage spend is lower than others in the EU. However, it should be noted that Irelands GDP has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. Our national defence policy prioritises the military defence of the state and its contributions in support of national resilience. In that context, the Defence Forces undertake a broad...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. In December 2024 the Department of Defence signed a contract for the delivery of four Airbus H145M helicopters which will provide a modern light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present ageing fleet of two EC-135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. The capital value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 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 (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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 a higher level of ambition, specifically LOA2, as defined by the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). The CODF recommended the development of a primary radar capability to ensure that Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government approved the move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. This provided for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual Estimates process. The revised NDP Capital allocation for the Defence Vote Group for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Statutory Instruments (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Statutory Instruments which were signed by me, or by my predecessor as Minister for Defence, in 2024 and 2025 and which are published on the Statute Book are set out in the table below. Statutory Instrument Year Name 338/2025 2025 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2025 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority 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. New rotary wing capabilities are currently being advanced in the context of the Equipment Development Planning process, and to this end, the various work...