Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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212. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is aware of reports, as published in a book (details supplied) Is Ireland Neutral page 135, that an Irish Defence Forces senior officer was involved in military actions that led the death of members of the Taliban forces in Afghanistan; if members of the Irish Defence Forces Army Ranger wing were involved in similar military actions while serving in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35156/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) are the Special Operations Forces of the Defence Forces.Personnel from the ARW served in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghanistan from October 2006 to March 2007 and from September 2014 to March 2015.

The ARW did not deploy Special Operations Forces in any direct or indirect way to ISAF in Afghanistan. The officer referred to in book in question was an Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer and not a member of the ARW.

The Defence Forces advise that they are unaware of the involvement of any member of the Defence Forces in any direct military action that led to the death of Taliban forces.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 215 together.

The White Paper on Defence, approved by Government in July 2015, resulted from a comprehensive examination of Defence requirements. It provides the defence policy framework for the period up to 2025. This policy framework is designed to be flexible and responsive given the dynamic nature of the security environment and enables the Department, and the Defence Forces, to be adaptive to changing circumstances and to use resources as efficiently as possible.

Within this context, the White Paper contains the Government's decision to put in place a fixed cycle of defence reviews. These cycle of reviews are to give assurance that defence policy remains up to date and relevant to the changing circumstances and bring certainty and regularity to defence planning. As set out in the White Paper these reviews are based on an updated security assessment and a fresh consideration of the implications of this assessment for policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing. The first such review, the White Paper Update, was completed in 2019.

The second of these reviews, the Strategic Defence Review stage, was due to commence in 2021. With the establishment of the independent Commission on the Defence Forces by Government in December 2020, a decision was taken to pause commencing the Strategic Defence Review until the Commission on the Defence Forces had completed their report and Government had been given time to consider the report which was published on the 9th February 2022.

The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

In July last year Government approved a High-Level Action Plan in response to the Commission report. As part of this, approval was given for a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission, which will entail funding increases to reach a defence budget of c. €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028, the largest increase in Defence Funding in the history of the state. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. The Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force. A key early action, and key output from the opening phase of the Transformation Programme, the development of a detailed implementation plan, is at an advanced stage and is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the current events in Ukraine are prompting an open debate and consideration of our defence requirements. There is an ongoing requirement to consider whether the capabilities we maintain are appropriate, having regard to the security environment, the roles that we wish the Defence Forces to undertake, and likely risks. For this reason one of the Early Actions arising out of High Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review. As well as encompassing the Government’s agreed recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces, the future role of the Defence Forces both nationally and internationally will also be considered within the Strategic Defence Review. An updated security assessment, which is the first stage of the review, is currently being conducted by an interdepartmental group.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of cybersecurity, the primary role of the Defence Forces relates to the defence and security of their own networks and systems. This important role is being developed in the context of the High Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and will grow in importance as threats in the cyber space increase.

The recommendation by the Commission on the Defence Forces to create a Joint Cyber Defence Command was accepted in principle by the Government, which meant that it required further consideration on the optimal approach to meeting the intent of the Commission. Sanction has been given for the Defence Forces to create a new Cyber Development Planning Office which will start the planning needed to enhance Defence Forces structures across the cyber domain required by a new Joint Cyber Defence Command, including the management of Defence Forces IT Services, CIS Services and Cyber Defence.

This Cyber Development Planning Office will also progress other cyber-related recommendations identified in the High Level Action Plan, including updating and publishing a cyber defence strategy in line with best international practice and standards as well as incorporating practical lessons identified from comparator countries and EU Member States’ maturing cyber commands.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28th March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations in the Report. This included approval in principle for the establishment of a Judge-led statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in the complaints system in the Defence Forces, in relation to interpersonal issues including, but not limited to sexual misconduct.

I had meetings with a number of key stakeholders in early May, including with the Women of Honour and their legal representatives, 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 on 12th June 2023, to discuss the Government’s commitment to move ahead with progressing the recommendations of the IRG Report.

I had a further meeting with the Women of Honour and their legal representatives on 14th June 2023, as part of a further round of engagements with a number of stakeholders, including the Defence Forces Representative Associations, the Defence Forces Veterans Associations and and the Men and Women of Honour Group. The Secretary General, Department of Defence met with Civil Service and Civilian Trade Unions. The focus of these meetings was to listen and discuss views on the draft Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. I met the Women of Honour and their legal representatives again on 6th July 2023.

There are no staff specifically allotted to matters relating to issues raised by the Women of Honour. Staff in the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, across a number of Branches and Units, are progressing the recommendations in the IRG Report. The views of all stakeholders are very important and we have listened very carefully to their observations and concerns.

The Government approved on 11th July 2023, the establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces and to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

The Government also approved the text of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023, amending Defence Act 1954, in line with the IRG Report. The amendments will ensure that An Garda Síochána will have sole jurisdiction within the State to investigate alleged sexual offences committed by persons subject to military law. Any subsequent cases will be dealt with by the civil courts.

The terms of reference of the External Oversight Body, which was created as per the recommendations of the IRG report, were also approved by Government this week.

Work is currently underway on the terms of reference for the Tribunal of Inquiry. I am considering feedback from a number of stakeholders. I will revert to Government in the Autumn, seeking approval for terms of reference and the appointment of a Judge to Chair the Tribunal.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in his Department’s assessment of the Report of The Commission on the Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35267/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. There were 69 main recommendations and with sub recommendations there were 130 recommendations in total. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covered high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

Given the significant recommendations contained in the Report, detailed consideration of these recommendations was undertaken over a period of 5 months by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Following this engagement, a High Level Action Plan (HLAP) and a Memo for Government were brought to Government and approved on July 12th 2022. The High Level Action Plan set out the response of Government in relation to each of the 130 individual recommendations: Accept, Accept in Principle, Further Evaluation or Revert. 103 of its recommendations were accepted by Government for implementation, or accepted in principle, with 17 requiring further evaluation and a further 10 to revert to Government.

This involved the approval of a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. The Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.

The High Level Action Plan set out a total of 38 early actions to be completed within 6 months of the Government decision. A comprehensive written update on all 38 early actions was published on March 23rd of this year, and includes the status of each of the 38 early actions in tabular form. At that time over 80% of the early actions had been achieved. Progress continues on the remaining early actions, and to-date approximately 90% have been achieved, with the remainder at an advanced stage and due to be completed shortly.

Government noted that, in light of the Commission’s report, there is an urgent need for HR and cultural transformation in the Defence Forces and this will be prioritised. The High Level Action Plan identified the recruitment, through an open process, for the new senior-level civilian positions of Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR for the Defence Forces as early actions required to progress this transformation. I welcome the recent appointment of Mr. Brian Molloy to the position of Defence Forces’ Head of Transformation. The competition to select the Head of Strategic HR has also been recently concluded and the process to appoint the successful candidate is nearing completion.

A key early action, and key output from the opening phase of the Transformation Programme, the development of a detailed implementation plan, is at an advanced stage and is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

When published, it will set out the approach to implementation for each of the 130 recommendations. Effective reporting mechanisms were put in place for the 38 early actions, and once the detailed implementation plan has been published similar reporting mechanisms will track the progress of all the Commission’s recommendations.

More generally, the Strategic Framework we are putting in place to drive the Commission's recommendations through will also be an important enabling mechanism for delivery of the Independent Review Group’s actions.

My priority now is to ensure that there is one Strategic Plan for the transformation of the Defence Forces, fully understood by everyone, that has the appropriate governance and reporting mechanisms, and is properly resourced.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if in view of the lack of an Army barracks in the central border area if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an Army barracks and, in the interim, as a forward operating base as that area has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, and taking into account that the presence locally of Army personnel played a very important role in the security of this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government. The report of the Commission was published on 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

In July last year Government approved a High-Level Action Plan in response to the Commission report. As part of this, approval was given for a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission, which will entail funding increases to reach a defence budget of c. €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates process.

Implementation structures are in place encompassing an Implementation Oversight Group, a High-Level Steering Board and an Implementation Management Office (IMO) to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

The High-Level Action Plan also sets out all the recommendations contained within the report and designates a response of Accept, Accept in Principle, Further Evaluation or Revert.

There are a number of recommendations contained in the report which may impact on the structure of the Defence Forces including that the structure of the Army be reviewed, and in that context, the disposition of Units across the Defence Forces may be considered.

The recommendation, that the structure of the Army be reviewed, was identified as an Early Action in the High-Level Action Plan. The Military authorities have appointed a head of Army Force design who will lead an Office of army force design which will undertake the work required to give effect to this recommendation. The Implementation Management Office is working on the production of a detailed implementation plan for the remaining recommendations which will include those which may assist with informing any decision about the future structure and organisation of the Defence Forces. This plan is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

Another of the Early Actions identified is the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review. This review is the second in the cycle of reviews as proposed in the White Paper on Defence and follows the 2019 White Paper Update. These cycles of reviews are to give assurance that defence policy remains up to date and relevant to the changing circumstances and bring certainty and regularity to defence planning.

As set out in the White Paper these reviews will be based on an updated security assessment and a fresh consideration of the implications of this assessment for policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing.

The first stage of this review is a security environment analysis which is being prepared by an interdepartmental working group at present.