Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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589. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the person or body that is responsible for drafting the terms of reference for the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; if the Commission will include a review the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 and the Defence Act 1954 to determine the respective Acts meaningfulness in the 21st century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19731/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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618. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the person or body that will be responsible for the consultation process on the independent commission on the Defence Forces as promised in the Program for Government which will form the terms of reference for the commission; if it will it be him; and if not, if it will be completed through a non-Governmental organisation. [20922/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 618 together.

The recently agreed Programme for Government provides for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. In due course, I plan to bring proposals to Government regarding the establishment of the Commission and its membership.

In this regard, the Programme for Government provides for the establishment of the Commission before the end of this year, with a mandate to report within twelve months. Furthermore, it provides that a consultation process will be undertaken prior to the finalisation of the Commission's terms of reference. No decisions have been taken to date in relation to these matters.