John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the plans to address the post-94 contracts within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13230/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages and service limits of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force has been conducted. The recommendations arising from the review requires consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions.

In December 2021, I secured agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which allows for an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals, who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1 January 1994, to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

In addition, I also secured arrangements that will facilitate the extension of service limits of Sergeants recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1994. Details in relation to the proposal for Sergeants will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There will also be discussions with PDFORRA, the representative association for enlisted personnel on this matter.

The other recommendations in the civil/military review, which includes service limits Commissioned Officers and for senior Non-Commissioned Officer ranks, will be considered in the forum of an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has established, to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have fast accrual pension arrangements.  

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to introduce legislation which would serve to protect the employment of members of the Reserve Defence Forces while such members take part in full-time duties as members of the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13222/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Members of the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) are not employed or engaged under a contract of employment and are not employees per se.  Furthermore, service with the AR and NSR is not pensionable under the Army Pension Schemes. 

Heretofore, there was no provision in the Defence Acts to allow RDF personnel to be deployed overseas. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 has now been signed into law, which serves to update the Defence Legislation on the use of the RDF on a voluntary basis, on-island and overseas in support of the Permanent Defence Force.

On foot of the enactment of the Defence Amendment Act, I gave a commitment to liaise with the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) on the issue of employment protection for RDF members who might be engaged in voluntary military service in support of the PDF going forward.

I wish to advise the Deputy that engagement at official level with DETE on this matter has been initiated with a view to identifying the most appropriate steps.  This matter will require careful consideration and will ultimately also involve an open and honest dialogue with employer bodies. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not wish to comment further pending the outcome of these initial discussions at official level.

In addition as the Deputy will be aware, the Report of the Independent Commission on the Defence Forces, published on 9 February 2022,  includes proposals on the role and contribution of the RDF. There is a process underway to consider these recommendations in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and stakeholders. The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action that has been taken in view of the White Paper on Defence that the ability to effectively defend Defence Forces’ networks from cyber-attacks is an essential capability that must be retained and developed. [13197/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015. The White Paper sets out that the primary role of the Defence Forces with regard to Cyber Security relates to the defence and security of its own networks and systems. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specific cyber activities and the resourcing of same by the Defence Forces, for both security and operational reasons. 

I would note, however, that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are committed to participating, under the leadership of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, in the delivery of measures to improve the Cyber Security of the State in line with the Programme for Government commitment to implement the National Cyber Security Strategy, recognizing the potential and important role of the Defence Forces. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is the home of the National Cyber Security Centre which is the primary authority responsible for cyber security in the State, including incident response, cyber resilience and information provision. 

With regard to the National Cyber Security Strategy, my Department officials and members of the Defence Forces are actively involved in its implementation. This Strategy, in conjunction with the White Paper on Defence 2015, will continue to inform our engagement in this critical area. This includes work to develop an updated, detailed risk assessment of the current vulnerability of all Critical National Infrastructure and services to cyber-attacks and the secondment of a member of the Defence Forces to the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. My officials were also part of the steering group that developed a Baseline Cyber Security Standard for Government Departments and Agencies and they participate in the UK-Ireland Critical National Infrastructure Cyber Cooperation Working Group.  My officials actively participate on the Inter-Departmental Committee overseeing the overall  implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy.

In addition, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have a Memorandum of Understanding and a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to provide support in the area of national cyber security. The overall aim is to improve the cyber security of the State through various types of assistance and support while also ensuring the operational requirements of the Defence Forces are prioritised, including the ongoing sharing of information and analyses of risks.