Results 301-320 of 47,797 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: As of 03 November 2025, Ireland is contributing 430 Defence Forces personnel to overseas peacekeeping missions and commitments. This reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. Ireland has always been a strong supporter of peacekeeping and contributions to peacekeeping operations and this is expressed in Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Papers (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, published on 19 March 2025, is a Joint Communication by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the EU Commission that seeks to mitigate some of the threats and challenges Europe collectively faces. It outlines a strategic direction with proposals aimed at closing critical capability gaps, enhancing military mobility,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I have earlier updated the House regarding Government’s intentions with regard to the proposed amendments to legislation governing the overseas deployments of the Defence Forces (the proposed Defence Amendment Bill). As I have previously outlined, the General Scheme of the Bill was published on 21 May last. It consolidates with amendments, the existing provisions of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. As of the 30 September 2025, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,641 personnel. As one of the recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition 2....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I have earlier updated the House regarding Government’s intentions with regard to the proposed amendments to legislation governing the overseas deployments of the Defence Forces (the proposed Defence Amendment Bill). As I have previously outlined, the General Scheme of the Bill was published on 21 May last. It consolidates with amendments, the existing provisions of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight vessels. Four of the vessels are regularly deployed on Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO). These four vessels consist of three P60 class vessels as well as the L.É. Aoibhinn (P71) with all four vessels conducting patrols on a rotation basis. Level of Ambition (LOA) 2 as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to reassure the Deputy and the House, that foreign naval vessels visiting Irish Ports are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. It is therefore normal and welcome for foreign naval vessels to visit Irish ports, whether that be to carry out a communication exercise with the Irish Naval Service outside Irish territorial waters, or simply to take crew rest. Indeed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Events (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: Yesterday I attended the 2025 annual DF Remembrance Ceremony. In addition to the remembrance ceremony at the National Memorial an annual Deceased Members Mass is also held in each Defence Forces Barrack location. The National Memorial, Merrion Square, was unveiled by President Mary McAleese in November 2008 and is the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I was delighted to attend and speak at the RACO Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) on 14 October at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co. Meath-my first RACO ADC since assuming the role of Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. It was an honour. At the conference, I took the opportunity to address several issues currently affecting the Defence Forces. The Chief of Staff, Lt.-General...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: For the Overall Defence Vote Group, budget 2026 sees an increase of €145m (11%) on the corresponding 2025 allocation, an increase which sees the Defence Vote Group increase significantly to €1.49billion in 2026. In relation to the Defence Vote itself (i.e. Vote 36 only) there has been a €157m (15%) increase on the corresponding 2025 allocation, bringing the Vote 36...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (6 Nov 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. When it comes to legislation dealing with maritime security, my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is developing a National Maritime Security Strategy to deal with new threats and vulnerabilities in the seas around us through a whole-of-government approach to improving maritime security. The new strategy will focus on enhancing maritime domain awareness and on ensuring the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, especially critical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Archives (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: It has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the timeframe available. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, in addition to a programme of cultural transformation, which is underway, my focus has been on stabilising the numbers of Defence Force personnel and facilitating the capacity for further increases. The Deputy will appreciate that retention levels are not influenced by a single factor, but rather there are multiple, interconnected factors, which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 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 Level of Ambition 2 (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 can maintain a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I committed at the recent RACO Annual Delegate Conference to implementing the Arbitration Board ruling, in the spirit of positive industrial relations. My Department are proceeding with the necessary actions required to give effect to the Ruling.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: The Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, i.e. RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. Having regard to commitments under national public service pay agreements, the representative associations can make representations in relation to the pay and conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from military authorities. I will revert to the Deputy when I have received their response.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: I am informed by the Defence Forces that candidates applying for positions in the Defence Forces are required to meet specific standards for military service, as laid down in Defence Forces Regulations, made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended and extended. These Regulations provide for a minimum height requirement for enlistment for both male and female candidates of 157.48cm. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces has participated in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights since 2013, and they continue to participate in the Mission, in terms of maintaining three personnel in staff officer and observer roles. The Deputy will be aware that in April 2024, following a review of overseas deployments, the Defence Forces withdrew the Mission’s...