Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces monitor the presence of naval vessels from other countries in Ireland's waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28118/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on Ireland’s submarine cables; if they have been put at risk in recent months by hostile states travelling through Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29572/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what measures have been implemented to increase the monitoring of Irish waters and Irish airspace from Russian vessels and aircraft since the start of the Ukrainian war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29533/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 105 and 118 together.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles.

While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks including contraband interdiction duties, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations (MDSO). As such any Naval Service patrol should be viewed as a multifaceted activity.

These patrols are augmented by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft which are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment.

The Naval Service and the Air Corps currently patrol the entire 200 mile limit and periodically patrol beyond these limits. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary including coastal areas. These maritime patrols are multi-tasked in that they undertake sea fishery protection, general surveillance, security and other duties such as search and rescue, diving operations and drugs interdiction.

In addition, the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) located at Naval Base Haulbowline carries out monitoring and surveillance of all vessels equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that are operating in and adjacent to the Irish EEZ.

Following an extraordinary EU Energy Council meeting in October 2022 to discuss the EU’s energy security in response to the attacks on Nordstream 1 and 2, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications sought support from my Department in relation to additional measures that could be put in place by the Defence Forces to ensure that critical off-shore infrastructure including subsea cables are protected.

My officials and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore infrastructure. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore infrastructure is taking place by a mixture of air and naval platforms.

The Defence Forces are aware of a number foreign military vessels which have passed through the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in recent months. It is not unusual for naval ships or civilian vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within this area or to passage through this area.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS).

Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed. Infringement of these obligations under international law would be a serious matter and would be addressed by the Government accordingly.

With regard to monitoring of Irish airspace, the Air Corps is not currently equipped to monitor aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces.

AirNav Ireland (formerly part of the IAA) exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by AirNav Ireland in respect of this airspace and in line with ICAO rules it is normal practice for them to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace.

The Deputy may wish to note that the development of a primary radar capability was one of the recommendations made in the report of the Commission of the Defence Forces last year, and in response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, has commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems. Delivery of primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver. However, delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of a primary radar capability.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF and, in 2022, a recruitment drive was advertised across a number of media channels. Recruit Liaison Officers across the Reserve conducted local recruitment to attract applicants for this campaign.

In 2022, to the end of year, 90 RDF recruits were inducted into the Defence Forces and the processing of eligible applicants is continuing with 10 further recruits being inducted so far this year as of 12 June 2023. All of these recruits have been in the Army Reserve.

Regarding the number of discharges in 2022, a total of 62 members of personnel discharged from the Army Reserve while 20 discharged from the Naval Service Reserve. As of 12 June 2023, a further 41 have discharged from the Army Reserve so far this year while 4 have discharged from the Naval Service Reserve.

The strength of the RDF stands as follows for May 2023: 1,351 members in the Army Reserve, 79 in the Naval Service Reserve (total of 1,430 between AR and NSR) and 276 members of the First Line Reserve.

The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF). The ORA’s initial focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan for the revitalisation of the Reserve, which is in train.

In terms of the strength and structure of the RDF, one of the recommendations from the Report is to increase the future RDF establishment strength to include at a minimum, an Air Force Reserve of 200, and a Navy Reserve of 400.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2023 and beyond.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his proposals to support members of the Defence Forces transition to civilian life upon retirement. [29529/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a serving member of the Defence Forces approaches retirement, either on age grounds or voluntarily, there are a range of supports made available to them by the Defence Forces.

Transition to Civilian Life courses are conducted by Defence Forces Personnel Support Service teams throughout the year. These courses are aimed at personnel who are retiring on age grounds or who are simply considering a change of career. The course was formally called the "Pre-Retirement" training course. The name was changed acknowledging that personnel are not always retiring when they leave the military.

These courses are of two to three days in duration and are conducted across the organisation. Each serving member is encouraged to undergo a Transition to Civilian Life course at least once during their career and within three years of leaving the Defence Forces. As part of the course, personnel receive advice and guidance on all aspects of retirement. This includes education on 'what to expect' from leaving the Defence Forces, which covers change, relationships, financial matters, health, and time management. Personnel also receive information about how others have dealt successfully with these life changes. The purpose of these courses is to enable personnel to anticipate changes in their own lives and to ease the transition to civilian life.

Additionally, I am informed by the military authorities that the following programmes, conducted by the Education and Training Boards, have been made available to Defence Forces personnel, facilitated by the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service:

• Skills for Work programme;
• Recognition of Prior Learning programme.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have instructed the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment of the vacant housing stock to ascertain their suitability to a return to modern single living in accommodation usage for serving personnel. I am advised that my officials together with the Defence Forces are currently developing proposals to inform the Request for Tenders to commence the procurement process for same. Accordingly , I am not currently in a position to state when such premises, if found suitable, will be available.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Military Medicine Training Scheme was adopted by the Defence Forces in 2015 as a means of addressing ongoing difficulties with the recruitment and retention of Medical Officers. The programme is integrated with the Trinity College Dublin/Health Service Executive GP training scheme. There are presently three (3) trainee doctors taking part in the Scheme.

I am advised that the Scheme has been adequately resourced since its inception. Intake for new applicants has been paused since 2021 in order to finalise a number of administrative issues and to allow for a joint civil-military review of the Scheme to be conducted. This review process concluded in 2022 and recommended the Scheme's continuation, pending the agreement of these outstanding issues.

I am informed that a Framework Agreement governing the Scheme has recently been agreed and signed following extensive engagement between my Department, the Irish College of General Practitioners, and the Health Service Executive.

This Framework Agreement covers the period 2023 to 2028, and is expected to ensure the viability of the Scheme in the coming years. In the meantime, Medical Officers continue to be recruited via the Direct Entry stream, as required.

The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of all claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, relating to remuneration and conditions of service and having regard to the provisions of public sector pay agreements.

Officials from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the Official side and the Representative side on a range of items which are processed through C&A.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has plans to review the decision to withdraw Irish troops from the UNDOF Mission to the Golan Heights in Syria to allow participation in an EU Battlegroup, as this undermines our neutrality and our sterling role and record as a peacekeeping force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29574/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Company from UNDOF next year and planning for their withdrawal is progressing. Neither the decision to withdraw from this mission nor the decision to participate in the EU Battlegroup have any implications for Ireland's policy of military neutrality.

At the time of the recent Government Decision that the Defence Forces should join the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, the Government was advised that a further assessment would be undertaken of the sustainability of the Defence Forces' overseas commitments.

Following the conclusion of this assessment and on the basis of the military advice available to me as well as formal engagement with the United Nations, I decided to withdraw the Infantry Group personnel from UNDOF with effect from April 2024. At this stage, it is likely that the Defence Forces will continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts.

Notwithstanding the decision to withdraw the Infantry Group from UNDOF, the Defence Forces will continue to have a significant presence serving overseas in the pursuit of peace, notably with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, where over 320 Defence Forces personnel will continue to serve.

The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission has been taken to allow the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions as well as to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity available to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025.

Participation in a Battlegroup has no effect on our traditional policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements.

The decision to participate in an EU Battlegroup does not presume any further decision in relation to participation in an actual Battlegroup operation. Any such decision is subject to national decision-making procedures.

Battlegroups are a key component of the capabilities that the EU can make available in support of UN-authorised crisis management operations. Within the EU Battlegroup concept, the purpose of the Battlegroup, as a rapid response capability, includes the role of acting as an initial entry force to stabilise a situation pending the deployment of a follow-on force, to support an established peace support operation which is running into difficulties, and to respond to humanitarian crises.