Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2000 and 2015 White Papers on defence; when the balance of the recommendations will be implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36372/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The first White Paper on Defence was published in February 2000. This was an important milestone that recognised the requirement for a coherent and clearly articulated Defence policy. In addition to confirming the roles of the Defence Forces and providing a policy framework, it set out specific recommendations for change, re-organisation and investment throughout the Defence Organisation. A review of its implementation was carried out by a civil-military group and their report was published in February 2007. This concluded that the goals outlined in the White Paper were being achieved and that the challenges that had emerged since 2000 were being met.  

Following Government approval to prepare a new White Paper on Defence, the then Minister for Defence published a Green Paper on Defence in July 2013 and in doing so initiated a broad public consultative process. This was considered necessary as the White Paper 2000 had provided Ireland’s defence policy framework and development strategy for over a decade. A new policy framework was required to reflect the many changes that had occurred in the defence and security environment at global, regional and domestic levels since 2000. As such, the latest White Paper, which was published in 2015, provides the current defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and encompasses all work carried out by the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence. It comprehends the Government’s policy on defence of the State from armed aggression, the defence contribution to domestic security, the defence contribution to international peace and security and a broad range of other “non-security” roles which the Government require the Defence Forces and Civil Defence to undertake. It considers the defence capabilities required so that the Defence Forces can successfully deliver on the roles assigned by Government. Finally, the White Paper also considers implementation and the actions required to ensure that defence planning and provision processes are further developed.

During scoping of the White Paper implementation programme 88 actions or projects were specifically identified. These actions represent a subset of the totality of the work being carried out as part of the implementation programme for the White Paper. While it is currently intended to have all 88 projects initiated or completed by the end of the ten year implementation programme, work in certain areas will continue beyond 2025 in order to ensure that changes, improvements and actions envisaged in the White Paper are fully implemented and to assure that positive outcomes endure and are embedded in the day to day business of the Defence Organisation.

To date, 37 projects have been initiated with 10 more projects due to initiate during 2018. Of these, 6 projects have been completed and closed/transitioned to normal business with a number of other projects close to completion.