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Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the 13 recommendations contained in the Report. Some actions have already been completed while others will take further time due to the requirement for legislative change. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by the Defence Forces are well documented. The numbers leaving the Defence Forces exceed the numbers recruited year on year, resulting in a continued decline in the overall strength level. While significant measures have been undertaken to improve the overall package in the Defence Forces, the decline in numbers has continued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would like to thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the recent and planned future improvements to Defence Infrastructure throughout the State which is unparalleled in our history. There are currently over €147m worth of IDP projects underway at different stages of development, many of which are specific to addressing operational and living-in accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to the unprecedented mobilisation of EU efforts to provide both civil and military assistance to Ukraine to defend itself in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. While Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 42 together. The ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces with regard to recruitment and retention are fully acknowledged and well documented. In this, we are no different to other international militaries who, in a competitive labour market, are also experiencing similar difficulties. The immediate focus for me as Minister for Defence is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the highest military body within the EU. It is composed of the Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the EU's Member States who, on a day to day basis, are represented in Brussels by the Military Representatives from the Permanent Representations of the Member States to the EU. The Government has agreed to nominate Lt. Gen. Clancy as a candidate for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence published in 2015 set out the Government intention to put in place a new fixed cycle of defence reviews. Such reviews are common practice internationally and give reassurance that policy remains up to date and relevant to changing future circumstances. The White Paper set out that every three years there will be a White Paper update that would consider...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 40 and 44 together. In 2022, the Government approved the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). One of these recommendations was to move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability that would require an additional 2,000 personnel, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,500 Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: heading (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The former Naval Service flagship vessel LÉ Eithne was decommissioned in 2022. In July 2022, the then Minister for Defence accepted the recommendation of the joint civil-military Working Group on Decommissioning that the decommissioning and disposal of three (3) Naval Service ships, namely LÉ Eithne P31, LÉ Orla P41, and LÉ Ciara P42, should be progressed as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones are deployed across several branches of the Defence Forces and are primarily used for reconnaissance and target spotting. These assets have no lethal offensive capabilities. Drones are also used by the Civil Defence in search, rescue and recovery of missing persons and have proven very capable in the field by enabling inaccessible areas to be searched...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: heading (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Payment (PRP) for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, with the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as it was then. The payment is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The conditions for entry to and service in the Permanent Defence Force are subject to review, having regard to the needs of the organisation, the development of best practices and the maximisation of potential avenues to increasing recruitment. Since the introduction of psychometric testing for general service recruits, the military authorities have revised the approach to such testing a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 39 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In December 2023, the Government approved the drafting of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023. It is intended that this Bill will provide for various amendments to be made to the Defence Acts 1954 to 2015, one of which will be to provide for the protection of the term “Óglaigh na hÉireann”. This proposed amendment reflects the central aim of the Private...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 50 together. 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 the 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, have significant strategic interests in identifying and addressing security challenges linked to the coastal defence, and Ireland takes part in a range of EU initiatives in this regard. In October 2023, the EU approved its revised EU maritime security strategy (EUMSS) and action plan, aimed at addressing security challenges at sea....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would like to thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to provide an update in relation to this new initiative in the Civil Defence Sector. It would be remiss of me at the outset, not to acknowledge the importance of Civil Defence and the role of Volunteers serving their communities. The organisation has a proud history of voluntary service and indeed I was very honoured to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 52 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced that Government had approved an increase in the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years, and the maximum recruitment age for all personnel to 39 years. These changes will come into effect from 29 March 2024. The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The strategic objective for the RDF is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both on-island and overseas. This is an underlying message in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces. The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which...

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