Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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99. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action that his Department is taking to prevent Defence Forces uniforms, insignia and intellectual property being used to promote hate speech online (details supplied). [56841/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Constitution and the Defence Acts enshrine the governance of the Defence sector. Under the provisions of the Defence Act, members of the Permanent Defence Force are prohibited from being members of a political organisation and members of the Reserve Defence Force are prohibited from political activities when called out on permanent service or when deployed on supplemental military service.

Sections 264 to 267 of this Act provide that it shall be an offence for any person (not being a member of the Defence Forces) to wear, without permission granted by or on behalf of the Minister for Defence, any uniform of the Defence Forces or any colourable imitation thereof. It also prohibits unauthorised persons to wear the uniform or any additional articles of the uniform, such as badges, insignias, and ribbons; or additionally to supply any uniform or article to another unauthorised person.

The Defence Act 1954, as amended, also prohibits the unlawful sale or purchase of military property, including uniforms, in Ireland.

The Act provides that a person found guilty by the Courts of an offence under these sections shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to €1,270 or to a term of imprisonment, or both.

Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A9 “Dress and Medals” governs the wearing of the uniform and provides that serving personnel shall have regard for the dignity of the uniform and avoid actions or places which might bring the uniform into disrepute. While DFR A9 governs serving members, Administrative Instruction A9 states that the wearing of any item of uniform when no longer serving, is forbidden except when specifically authorised by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).

The Defence Forces recognises the need to ensure that the societal changes being witnessed in Ireland are reflected in the Defence organisation. The 2016 Defence Forces current Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement and Action Plan outlines the Defence Forces approach to diversity and inclusion across the various strands of its activities. More recently, the report from the Commission on the Defence Forces underlined the need for the Defence Forces to continue to embrace diversity and there are a number of recommendations in the report on this matter.

The Deputy may be aware that the Defence Forces have a Social Media Policy in place and personnel in breach of this policy are subject to disciplinary action, in accordance with Military Law.