Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Defence when he expects the new White Paper on Defence to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46231/10]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received Cabinet approval to progress the new White Paper on Defence; the progress made in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46229/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 48 together.

I circulated a draft memorandum to my cabinet colleagues, in October 2010, outlining the proposed approach to the development of the new White Paper on Defence. I have considered the comments received and these will be reflected in the final memorandum.

The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, which was published recently, sets out the requirement for the Department of Defence to deliver cumulative savings of €106m over the next four (4) years. As a preliminary stage in the White Paper process, the Department has to develop a framework of options to achieve this target.

I have deferred bringing the final memorandum to cabinet to allow time for officials in the Department, in consultation with the military authorities, to prepare this framework.

I intend to continue the white paper process, at the end of the first quarter in 2011. Pending publication of the new white paper, the current White Paper on Defence will continue to provide the policy framework for the Defence Organisation.