Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Defence when the White Paper on Defence will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34578/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The development of the new White Paper on Defence is progressing well. The Green Paper on Defence, published in July 2013 set out a range of policy focused questions and initiated a broad public consultation process. This has generated 122 written submissions and civil and military personnel from the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have engaged in follow on meetings with a number of those that made submissions. A key part of the process is the consideration of potential challenges to our security as these may emerge into the future. As recent events have highlighted the defence and security environment can be volatile and unpredictable and this remains a key challenge in the preparation of any White Paper on Defence. The identification of policy options for the defence aspects of the Government’s response to these challenges and the associated capability implications is another key part of the process. There must also be consideration of other demands that will be made of the Defence Organisation over the coming decade and the broad roles that Government may assign to the Defence Forces.

Working groups comprising civil and military representatives from the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are considering likely future operational demands and the types of defence capabilities required to meet these demands. In the course of their deliberations, the Working Groups are taking into consideration the inputs received from a wide variety of stakeholders. This includes the views of international organisations which have been sought with a particular focus on likely future trends in international peace support operations.

Discussions have also been held with a range of other Government Departments on cross-cutting policy issues and likely future demands from Government bodies and State agencies. These discussions are continuing, as required, throughout the White Paper process.

This ongoing work will underpin recommendations regarding defence provision for the next decade. It is necessary to ensure the development of an effective policy framework for defence and I am satisfied with the progress that has been made to date in this important work.

I anticipate that an initial draft White Paper will be submitted to me for my consideration by the end of 2014. I will subsequently bring the draft to Government for their consideration and approval.