Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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2292. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the role and resources of the Army Ranger Wing will be broadened and increased in view of recent terrorist attacks in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28234/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) are the Special Operations Forces of the Defence Forces. In this context, the ARW are trained and equipped to undertake a range of specialist roles.

The White Paper on Defence (2015) sets out the capability agenda for the Defence Forces for the next decade. It contains a commitment to further enhance the capabilities of the ARW. Work to identify a range of options in this regard is ongoing as part of the implementation of the White Paper.