Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The competition to which the Deputy refers was a nationwide recruitment competition for the position of Civilian Clerk in the Defence Forces. This external competition was open to applications from the public. The competition was advertised through the Public Appointment Service and was run in accordance with normal public service procedures and all appointments are made in line with those procedures. My Department is committed to fair and equitable recruitment.

As the appointment process is still ongoing and has not yet reached a conclusion, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual assignments.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on Ireland’s participation in NATO Partnership for Peace; the status of Ireland’s Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme; the engagements he has had in relation to such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31240/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's relationship with NATO is conducted through Partnership for Peace (PfP), of which Ireland has been a member since 1999. Participation in PfP is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN and in enhancing the Defence Forces’ interoperability with other professional military forces. PfP retains its own separate identity and was founded based on an individual bilateral relationship between NATO and each of the Partnership for Peace countries. It is a voluntary and cooperative framework between NATO and individual non-members of NATO.

NATO is the international standards' organisation for military forces. Access to NATO training and standards, through participation in PfP, has proved invaluable in the development of Defence Forces capabilities for the increasingly complex and challenging crisis management operations we face today. It improves the quality of our contribution to UN missions and UN-mandated missions including those led by regional organisations such as the EU and NATO.

Since the Madrid Summit in 2022, the framework for cooperation between Partners and NATO is provided for in the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP). Previously, it was reflected in the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP). The new ITPP framework presents an opportunity to enhance any Partner's cooperation in relevant areas of choice, including cyber, enhancing resilience, improved maritime situational awareness and climate change.

Cooperating with NATO on areas of mutual interest does not indicate a move closer to NATO, it is about practical cooperation, which is of benefit to Ireland. Considerable progress has been made on developing Ireland's ITPP and it is anticipated that it will be finalised by the end of 2023.