Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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482. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number, name and location of former military barracks still in State ownership; the amount of land in each of these barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54710/22]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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483. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number, name and location of current military barracks in use by the State; the amount of land in each of these barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54711/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 483 together.

The table below sets out current and former military barracks owned or administered by the Department of Defence.

* Hectares stated are approximate.

Other barracks which were surplus to military requirements have been disposed of by way of public auction or private treaty, some to other public bodies. The Department is not in a position to attest to the current ownership or usage of said properties.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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487. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with Department officials and Defence Force personnel regarding the 325 personnel who purchased their discharge from the defence forces to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54720/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I have ongoing engagement with civil and military management on all matters affecting the Defence Forces, including staffing matters.

The military authorities have advised that, as at 30 September 2022, 243 Defence Force personnel had discharged by purchase. The Government has previously acknowledged the recruitment and retention difficulties in the Defence Forces which are presenting ongoing challenges. This is particularly the case for specialist positions as the current competitive jobs market is proving challenging for all sectors. The high standard of training provided to Defence Forces personnel makes them ever more attractive to private sector employers.

My focus is on bringing the strength of the Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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488. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement that his Department has had with PDFORRA and RACO regarding their efforts to seek clarification on the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54721/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Permanent Defence Force was not included in the review in relation to the retirement ages of Public Servants by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform carried out in 2017. It was agreed then with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the retirement age for members of the uniformed fast accrual group, which included members of the Permanent Defence Force along with the Garda, Firefighters and Prison Officers, was best dealt with at sectoral level. The detailed policy, operational and manpower issues relevant to these groups could be appropriately considered at that level.

Accordingly, the members of the uniformed fast accrual group, who are currently required to retire early due to the nature of their work, were not covered by the increase in compulsory retirement age from 65 to 70 for Public Servants recruited before 1 April 2004.

A Project arising from the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force was undertaken to examine the contracts of service and mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel.

In December 2021, agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow for an extension in service limits for all Privates and Corporals to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

Interim arrangements have also recently been secured, following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which will allow for Sergeants recruited after January 1st 1994, who are or would reach 50 years of age by the end of 2024, to continue to serve for a further two years to the end of 2024, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

Other recommendations will be considered in the forum of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform-established Inter-Departmental Working Group, which is considering mandatory retirement ages for all public service groups with fast accrual pension arrangements.

A claim to increase the mandatory retirement age for all Officers was received from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) under the Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions under the C&A Scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the matter at this time.

Correspondences outside of Conciliation Council has been received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) within the C&A Scheme, in relation to the mandatory retirement ages of Enlisted Personnel, which the Department of Defence has also engaged with.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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489. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the membership of the independent review group to examine the effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures dealing with workplace issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces; if new members have been appointed to this group since it was first established; the details as to the process for appointing these new members in an open and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54734/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The work of the Judge-led Independent Review Group (IRG), established by me on 25 January last, following Government approval, is examining issues relating to bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct, as well as workplace culture, in the Defence Forces.

I can assure the Deputy that the process I have undertaken for appointing the members of the Group has been entirely transparent with due regard to members' level of expertise and independence.

I determined that the Chairperson of the 3-person Group would be a former High Court Judge with relevant experience. I also decided that at least one of the members should be someone with extensive legal expertise. With regard to these 2 appointments, I consulted with the Attorney General who provided me with nominees, which I subsequently approved.

In the same vein, I also approved the membership of Jane Williams, having regard to her extensive experience in HR matters including in particular, as a former member of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Current membership of the Group , as approved by me therefore, is as follows:

Chair: Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon (Retired High Court Judge)

Member: Ms Jane Williams, HR Specialist and former member of the Commission on the Defence Forces

Member: Mr Don Hegarty, HR Specialist. Following receipt of a proposal from the Independent Review Group for a 4th member of the Group, I approved the nomination from the Chair of the Independent Review Group of Mr. Don Hegarty, on the basis of his extensive HR experience.

Member: Mr Simon Boyle SC (replaced Mr Mark Connaughton SC in August 2022). Mr. Boyle was nominated by the Attorney General's Office for my consideration and approval.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Group are due to submit a final report to me before the end of the year. This report will be brought to Government before being published. As I have already stated, I am particularly keen for this body of work to conclude.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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490. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his visit to Irish troops in UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54795/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 27 October, I travelled to Camp Shamrock (UNP 2-45) to meet with and preside at the medal parade for members of the 120th Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, who are currently deployed in UNIFIL alongside members of the Polish, Hungarian and Maltese Armed Forces, which make up the multinational IrishPolBatt contingent in UNIFIL.

I delivered an address to the troops in which I thanked them on behalf of the Government for the invaluable work that they are doing in south Lebanon. I also had the opportunity to spend time with and engage directly with members of IrishPolBatt.

As Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is always a great honour and privilege to visit Irish Defence Forces' personnel serving overseas and have the opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable work they are doing in the pursuit of peace.

In addition to the visit to Camp Shamrock, my itinerary included a wreath-laying ceremony at Tibnin Bridge to mark the 40th anniversary of the deaths of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private James Murphy and Private Peter Burke. This was a fitting and appropriate tribute to these three soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the cause of peace in Lebanon.

Because of his unavailability at short notice, a scheduled office call with the UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Lázaro Sáenz did not take place.

I was accompanied on my visit by the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Jacqui McCrum, and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt General Sean Clancy.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the Officer Commanding 120th Infantry Battalion and to all the Irish personnel in Lebanon for the extremely warm welcome afforded to me during the visit.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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491. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will expand on his comments where he spoke about greater involvement by Irish companies in the global military industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54796/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the question relates to remarks included in a recent media article, following a recent information and networking event at the Aviva Stadium hosted by my Department and the Defence Forces. That event provided opportunities for Irish Industry and research institutions interested in collaborating on security, defence and dual use technology projects.

While I have spoken recently about the potential role for Irish Industry and researchers working on individual projects or collaborating in security, defence and dual use technologies, at no point did I refer to the “greater involvement by Irish companies in the global military industry”.

Indeed, at the recent information and networking event, I specifically said that “Ireland does not have a defence industry like other European member states, and it is unlikely that we will ever have one”. I also expressed my support for the development of “defence innovation in Europe and strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) in response to rapid developments of new and disruptive technologies as an essential geostrategic factor in shaping an international security environment.”

I also said in the Dáil, in relation to the likelihood of the Defence Forces participation in Chapter VII missions, that “we need to see this as a challenge that we can only respond to over a number of years. That means investing more in defence and being unapologetic and transparent about what that means, rather than pretending that somehow a neutral country does not have to invest in defence”.

The information and networking event at which I spoke was in support of Irish companies, especially SMEs, and Irish research institutions who are engaged in the development of technologies that enhance the capabilities of the Defence Forces and keep them safe, whether they are on missions and operations overseas or undertaking their range of duties at home in Ireland. These companies and research projects also create high-level employment across Ireland and export cutting edge technology around the world.