Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proposed timeframe for the application of the Working Time Directive within the Defence Forces. [29527/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive into Irish Law.

I wish to assure you, however, that I am fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to its members. This is in line with the Government commitment to remove the blanket exemption in the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 for both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána.

The removal of the blanket exemption in the Organisation of Working Time Act for the Defence Forces is a complex matter given the nature of some military activities. An extensive amount of work undertaken by military management has determined that a high percentage of the normal everyday work of the Defence Forces is already in compliance with the Working Time Directive.

Recent European Case Law on military service, however, has also been clear that certain activities due to their specific nature, can be considered outside the scope of the Directive. The provisions of this Ruling have duly informed the proposed management position, which has as its guiding principle, the fundamental requirement to ensure that appropriate rights and protections with regard to health and safety, are afforded to serving members, while also ensuring that the Defence Forces can continue to fulfil their essential state functions.

Consultation with the Representative Associations on the implementation of the Working Time Directive is taking place through a Sub-Committee of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. I understand that a series of facilitated theme-based discussions between my officials, military management, and the Representative Associations took place towards the end of last month. I understand that the discussions were constructive and are continuing.

I fully recognise the importance of implementing the provisions of the Directive and the positive impact it will have on serving members and I have directed that a final management position on the implementation of the Directive is to be submitted to me for my consideration and approval in the coming weeks.

Following my consideration and approval of a final management position on the implementation of the Directive, my Department will be engaging formally with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment who will take forward the appropriate legislative framework.

I can assure the Deputy that the health and safety of personnel in the Defence Forces remains an absolute priority for myself and the Chief of Staff and we remain fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied as appropriate, throughout the Defence Forces.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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92. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention rates in the Defence Forces. [29552/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 92 together.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 May 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, was 7,764 personnel.

I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these.

Sanction has recently been received for 100 extra positions to facilitate the implementation of the report on the Commission on the Defence Forces. This is in addition to the pending appointment of a civilian Head of Strategic HR, and the recently appointed civilian Head of Transformation, within the Defence Forces.

In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive Naval Service Regeneration Plan is being progressed. The aim of this plan is to address issues, including Human Resource matters, facing the Naval Service. As part of a Naval Service specific recruitment campaign, a Naval Service recruitment advertisement launched last week and will be rolled out across all media platforms in the coming weeks. A contract has recently been awarded to a marine specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service.

The military authorities advise that current Defence Forces recruitment initiatives include ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, the re-entry schemes and the 'Be More' recruitment campaign. The maximum age of entry was recently increased to 29 years old for General Service Recruits, Cadets, Air Corps Apprentices and certain specialists. In addition, the Defence Forces have established a Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston, with a view to increasing the throughput of recruits.

A range of financial and non-financial retention measures have been introduced by Government such as service commitment schemes, tax measures, and recent agreement to further extend the service of post-94 Privates and Corporals allowing for their continuance in service to the end of 2024. There has also been significant progress on pay. Current pay rates including Military Service Allowances for recruits on completion of their training, start at €37,147 in Year 1, rising to €38,544 in Year 2, and €39,832 in Year 3 of service.

My immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has engaged with calls by the Women of Honour group for a public inquiry into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29554/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is willing to apply the terms of reference provided by the Women of Honour group to the planned statutory inquiry into abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces. [29531/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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112. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 16 May 2023, the status of the promised statutory inquiry to identify systemic failures in the Defence Forces complaints system, including in relation to sexual misconduct; the timeline for the statutory inquiry; the terms of reference of the statutory inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29519/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 99 and 112 together.

The Government has agreed to progress, as a priority, the recommendations in the Report of the Independent Review Group. The establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints in relation to interpersonal issues, including but not limited to sexual misconduct is just one of the recommendations that is being implemented.

Following the Government approval to establish a Statutory Inquiry, there has been ongoing consultation with the Attorney General in respect of its establishment and his office has assisted in the preparation of the draft terms of reference.

I had meetings with a number of key stakeholders, in early May, where draft terms of reference for the Statutory Inquiry were shared. I requested that the groups provide feedback in writing to me, so that their observations could be considered in preparing the terms of reference. The draft terms of reference were also shared with a number of interested parties who contacted my office.

The Taoiseach and I met with the Women of Honour Group on Monday last, 12th June, to discuss the Government’s commitment to move ahead with progressing the recommendations of the IRG Report.

I met the Women of Honour Group and their legal representatives again, last Wednesday, in a further round of engagements with a number of other stakeholders, including the Defence Forces Representative Associations, the Defence Forces Veterans Associations and the Men and Women of Honour Group.

The views of all stakeholders are very important and we have listened very carefully to their concerns. I have heard differing views from differing groups. I will be reflecting on the feedback received from the various stakeholders, which will be considered in the preparation of the terms of reference for the Inquiry.

While consideration is being given to the format of a Statutory Inquiry, this has not delayed the immediate implementation of some of the recommendations in the IRG report. For instance, all allegations of sexual assault by serving members occurring in the State, are now being referred directly to an Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution. Legislative proposals will shortly be brought forward to formalise this.

The External Oversight Body as recommended in the IRG Report has been established, initially on a non-statutory basis. Legislation will be brought forward to put this Body on a statutory footing.

With the assistance of an external legal firm, extensive work is already underway to ensure that the Defence Forces are compatible with the provisions of the relevant equality legislation.

The implementation of the recommendations in the IRG Report together with the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, particularly around the area of culture, will see a fundamental transformation in attitudes and policies in the Defence Forces, which should be the acceptable norm in any modern day employment.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the work of the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28297/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government agreed to establish the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the thirteen recommendations of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces published on March 28^th.

The Government moved quickly to establish the Body, making the following appointments on April 5^th

• Professor Brian MacCraith as the Independent Chair
• Ms. Josephine Feehily
• Ms. Patricia King
• Ms. Julie Sinnamon
• Mr. Aongus Hegarty
• Ms. Jacqui McCrum in her capacity as Secretary General of the Department of Defence

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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93. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the date by which he expects primary radar coverage of Irish airspace to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29272/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his proposed timeframe to deliver primary radar to facilitate domestic oversight of Irish airspace. [29530/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 111 together.

The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the Commission’s report, was to commence planning for military radar capabilities. In response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, was established and commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems.

It must be acknowledged, however, that delivery of primary radar in particular is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver. Nevertheless, delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of this capability. Work that has been carried out to date includes identification of requirements and research into various delivery options, as well as consideration of approaches internationally. This has included a visit to Cyprus.

Delivery of primary radar is a key capability priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and I am determined to ensure its delivery within the earliest practicable timeframe.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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94. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons recruited to the Defence Forces in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [29441/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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117. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons who resigned or retired from the Defence Forces in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [29442/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 117 together.

The military authorities have provided the information in the following table, detailing the total number of personnel inducted into, and discharged from, the Defence Forces in each of the years 2013 to 2023 (as at 31st May).

*As at 31 May 2023

The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. In that regard, my immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.