James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the timeframe for increasing the strength of the Defence Forces by 3,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34150/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces has made it clear that the level of ambition (LOA) for the Defence Forces must be elevated beyond that at which it is operating at the moment.

The report outlines three levels of ambition. LOA 1 is essentially proceeding as we are at present and seeking to move back to a full establishment figure of 9,500. The Commission has concluded that this would leave the Defence Forces unable to mount a credible defence of the State. LOA 2 would address specific priority gaps to improve on-island and overseas capabilities. LOA 3, would bring Ireland in line with other small neutral European countries in terms of spend.

I am on the record as saying that we need to aim for LOA 2. This level of ambition will require an additional 2,000 personnel beyond the establishment figure of 9,500 and an increase in the defence budget of some 50%.   I have asked the Defence Forces to develop a strategic plan to examine their recruitment practices and structures to facilitate this increase in numbers and an

appropriate action plan.

This Commission report also includes, inter alia, consideration of issues relating to culture, recruitment and retention, working hours, work-life balance, training, promotion, diversity and a host of other matters all of which will have an impact on job satisfaction and morale.  Following relevant consultation, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan, which will set out arrangements for its implementation.

In the interim, my focus remains on restoring all branches of the Defence Forces to the current agreed strength and in that context, there are a number of initiatives which are presently being implemented to counter ongoing staffing challenges.  There is ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment and some 110 personnel have been inducted to date in 2022. Retention measures include service commitment schemes in the Air Corps and Naval Service, and the sea-going naval personnel tax credit. Pay has improved as a result of increases arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report and from recent pay agreements. Agreement has also been reached on the extension of service limits for privates and corporals, with discussions ongoing relating to sergeants.  

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the recent exercises engaged in by the 1st Brigade Artillery Regiment with NATO Forces in Cork; the breakdown of similar exercise which have taken place over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34177/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The recent exercise referred to was an Operational Capabilities Concept Self Evaluation undertaken by a Battery from the 1st Brigade Artillery Regiment in Kilworth Camp, Cork.

Operational Capability Concept (OCC) is an evaluation and feedback process that provides for external evaluation by trained evaluators of declared military capabilities in accordance with NATO standards. The Defence Forces joined the OCC Programme in 2016. It is an aspect of Ireland’s participation in Partnership for Peace, which is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for multinational crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN.

NATO forces did not participate in this exercise. A small number of military evaluators from NATO member states were there as observers as part of the evaluation and feedback process.

The Defence Forces has conducted the OCC process on three previous occasions - once in 2018 with 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron and twice in 2021 with the Naval Service and Army Ranger Wing.

Self-determination is the fundamental underpinning of OCC, in that it affords Partners the flexibility to choose not only to participate in a specific programme but also to choose their level of participation.  It is an entirely voluntary process.  

The White Paper on Defence 2015 refers to utilising NATO as the standard and benchmark for the Defence Forces, it being the ‘ISO of the military world’. The Defence Forces involvement with OCC is a reflection of how they strive to reach that standard and benchmark.