Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The first question is whether the Minister for Defence will come back on this before the summer recess. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said he will shortly revert to the Government and I cannot go beyond that. That is his guarantee. He has said he will respond to the report but he will also bring an action plan to the Government. That deals with the Senator's other question.

The Senator mentioned that the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps are the three branches of the Defence Forces but we must also think about cyber defences, which will also need attention. That is referenced in the report.

The budget is coming up and, as the Senator knows, the summer economic statement was published yesterday, although that does not provide any detail about the different Departments and who is getting what. The Department of Defence is liaising with my Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to work out what level of funding is required for this year's budget. I cannot say any more than that. I am here on behalf of the Minister and that is all the information I can give the Senator.