Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the re-opening of St. Bricin's Military Hospital or the construction of a new purpose-built military medical facility staffed by members of the Medical Corps will be committed to in order to better prepare readiness in the face of future challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34675/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may wish to note that the Land Development Agency has confirmed to my Department that they are interested in acquiring the St. Bricins land holding for the purpose of developing housing provision. The necessary legal preparatory work to give effect to this transfer is well advanced.

In this regard, I can confirm that the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme includes provision for the relocation and development of a new purpose built medical facility. The relocation when completed will not diminish, in any way, the provision of the existing comprehensive range of medical care currently provided to all serving personnel of the Permanent Defence Forces.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the updating of training continues throughout all branches of the Defence Forces including the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34604/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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306. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the training of the Defence Forces remains on par with international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34964/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 306 together.

The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government.

The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely; Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel are prepared for exercising command authority across the full range of military functions both at home and overseas in international operations. Skills Training ensures that Defence Forces personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills. Career Training, and education, provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels. Collective Training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together, to develop integrated and coherent combat forces.

The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve, is underpinned by an analysis of training required to meet operational output and capability development requirements.

The Defence Forces seek to constantly benchmark training across all three arms of the organisation against best military and academic practice. Military best practice is ensured by implementing a policy of standardisation that is in line with EU and NATO/Partnership for Peace partners. Academic best practice is ensured by benchmarking courses through accreditation under the National Framework of Qualifications which is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

The Defence Forces deliver military programmes and modules meeting national and international standards and engage with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, aims to ensure that the Defence Forces retain currency with regards to best international practice and employ all relevant modern training methods.

I remain committed to ensuring that all personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be trained to appropriate standards.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the mechanisms the Defence Forces have in place to ensure that UNSCR 1325 is at the centre of all defence activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34623/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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297. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the capacity of the Defence Forces to deal with the increased use of sexual and gender based violence in conflict zones. [34701/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 297 together.

Ireland implements UNSCR 1325 through our National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security. Irelands 3rd NAP on Women Peace and Security was published in June 2019 and covers a five-year period up to 2024. Its implementation is overseen by an Oversight Group, which includes representatives from both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces.

Ireland is committed, through its third NAP on WPS, to women’s protection in fragile and conflict-affected zones and the prevention and combatting of all human rights violations against women, including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Gender-Based Violence.

In line with the NAP for the implementation of UNSCR 1325, the Defence Forces launched their own “Defence Forces Third Action Plan for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 and Related Resolutions” in December 2020. The third iteration of the Defence Forces action plan has three key priorities spanning the life of the plan, namely,

a. reinforcing initiatives already in place whilst aiming to capture their effectiveness;

b. the consideration of the effects of harmful masculinities and discriminatory gender norms;

c. the development of Defence Forces processes addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The Defence Forces WPS Action Plan commits to the comprehensive training of peacekeepers on the gendered impacts of conflict, increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping missions, ensuring trained Gender Advisors are deployed to Peacekeeping missions and strengthening the gender responsiveness of the UN. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces report on the implementation of these commitments to the Oversight Group for Ireland’s national level plan.

The Defence Forces are a member of the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence (ICGBV). The Consortium works in over 50 countries worldwide to prevent, mitigate and respond to gender based violence.

The Defence Forces have gender advisers in each of the military headquarters at home and gender focal points are appointed to overseas missions. The gender advisor in Defence Forces headquarters has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions within Defence Forces policies, programmes and operations both on island and overseas.

The promotion of a strong gender perspective is a key element in all our peacekeeping operations and is an integral element to improving the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping. It is widely acknowledged that the presence of women contributes greatly in resolving conflict with local populations on the ground. It broadens the skills set available within a peacekeeping mission and provides role models for women, both at home and abroad.

The Defence Forces is an inclusive, equal opportunity organisation that encourages participation of women at all levels, throughout the Defence Forces.