Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Defence the projects and proposals that he submitted to the Government’s 2016 to 2021 capital investment plan; the projects that were accepted; and those that were rejected. [41163/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s 2016-2021 Capital Investment Plan provides a significant boost in capital funding for the Defence Sector. The €437m allocated to Defence, which includes an additional €65m over the 2016-2021 timeframe, will allow Defence to make significant investments in equipment and infrastructure over the lifetime of the Capital Plan. Proposals under the Capital Investment Plan were submitted and approved in the aggregate and are based on priorities identified in the White Paper on Defence. The White Paper on Defence identifies the priorities for the investment of these funds over the coming years. It sets out proposals for the replacement of major equipment platforms and other priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, in accordance with capability requirements. The funding allocated in this Capital Plan will play a vital role is ensuring that the priorities identified in the White Paper can be met and that the Defence Forces can deliver fully on the roles assigned by Government.

While specific investment decisions are still at the planning stage, the broad areas in which these capital funds will be invested are as follows:-

- Replacement programmes for defensive equipment across the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps, including payments arising under the Naval Vessel replacement programme;

- Investment in Defence Forces Built Infrastructure including refurbishment of the Defence property portfolio and provision of replacement and additional facilities where required;

- Development of the Peace & Leadership Institute;

- Purchase of new and replacement Information and Communication Technology hardware across the Department and the Defence Forces.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Defence for further details on his announcement that all-female Defence Forces units will be created and embedded in United Nations peacekeeping operations, where gender-based violence has occurred. [41166/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In May 2015, during a visit to Ireland, the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon, observed the value in some situations of being able to call upon female peacekeepers having regard to the multifaceted nature of peacekeeping challenges. He requested that consideration be given to the contribution of women soldiers to UN operations and that Ireland might factor this into its approach to such operations. The recent White Paper on Defence highlights the importance of UNSCR 1325 in setting out the vital role that women can play in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace building, post-conflict reconstruction, reform and governance. This, and subsequent UN Women, Peace and Security (WPS) resolutions, call on nations to ensure that a gender perspective is included in the planning and conduct of all military operations, something that is particularly relevant in circumstances where gender based violence has occurred.

In the continuing development of the State’s approach to overseas peace support and in response to the Secretary General’s comments, the Department is examining the UN Secretary General’s request in consultation with the UN and will engage in due course with other stakeholders involved, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces to explore the contribution of gender focused measures, particularly in relation to the appropriate formation and deployment of female personnel.

It is important to stress that the Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and that the Defence Forces have no restrictions as regards the assignment of men or women to the full range of operational and administrative duties, including in respect of participation in UN peacekeeping operations.