Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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113. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on Ireland's ability to protect its coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48989/22]

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 Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Naval Service and the Air Corps carry out surveillance of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and periodically patrol beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. I am advised that the fleet is managed to ensure maximum availability to meet operational requirements.

Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while conducting their primary day-to-day tasking of providing a fishery protection service. At any one time the Naval Service can have a number of ships that are on active operations around the Irish EEZ whilst a number of others are undergoing routine resupply, maintenance and down time for ships companies.

I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards. The Defence Forces keep their operational plans and response capabilities for dealing with a wide range of threats and emergencies under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces will continue to respond in an effective and timely manner to such events were they to occur in the State.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 10 March 2022, if the engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issue of employment protection for members of the Reserve Defence Force who may be engaged in voluntary military service in support of the Permanent Defence Forces has concluded; the number of virtual and in-person official meetings, respectively that have taken place between his Department and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment on this issue; the dates of any such meetings; the measures that he expects to be put in place as a result of this engagement; the anticipated timescale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48914/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The primary roles allocated to the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), thus far, have been to augment the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in crises and to contribute to State ceremonial events. 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 PDF and where it is in the best interests of the PDF.

On the important matter of employment protection for members of the Reserve who may be so engaged on a voluntary basis, I wish to advise the Deputy that engagement by my officials with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), commenced with a series of both phone calls and virtual meetings held on 5 November 2021 and 21 March 2022. The contribution from officials in DETE on this matter has both informative and welcome. With their continued assistance, engagement is also underway between my officials and both employer and employee bodies on this matter.

In addition, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar,TD, wrote to me on 24 November 2021, lending the continued support of his Department to the ongoing deliberations, which I welcome.

On the basis that this body of work is continuing, the Deputy will appreciate that I do not wish to comment further at this time pending the outcome of these discussions.

In tandem, I would also advise the Deputy that there is ongoing engagement by my officials with the military authorities and on an informal basis, with RDFRA, the Representative Association representing the RDF, on a range of practical and operational matters associated with the deployment of the RDF on a voluntary basis, in support of the PDF.