Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which he continues in his efforts to ensure the full implementation of all aspects of the report of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42535/23]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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124. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the details of the Detailed Action Plan on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the target date by which he intends to achieve Level of Ambition 2 of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42646/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 124 and 168 together.

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. The move to LOA2 is due to be complete by 2028. 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 23^rdof this year, and included the status of each of the 38 early actions in tabular form. To-date over 95% of the early actions 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 appointments of Mr. Brian Molloy to the position of Defence Forces’ Head of Transformation and Mr. Declan Carville to the position of Head of Strategic HR.

The High Level Action Plan set out initial implementation and oversight structures. An independently chaired Implementation Oversight Group has been established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations approved by Government. Ms. Julie Sinnamon has been appointed as the independent chair of the Implementation Oversight Group. There have been six meetings of the Group to date, most recently on the 21st of September. A High-Level Steering Board has been established, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, to oversee the implementation. The High Level Steering Board met for the first time on the 1st of March.

A number of key achievements in relation to the Commission’s recommendations include:

• HR measures including Temporary Associate Membership of ICTU and pay and allowance structures delivered;
• recruitment and induction strategies developed encompassing advertising, expanded recruitment and induction capacity;
• establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces into workplace issues will include in its terms of reference the examination of cultural issues within the Defence Forces and the treatment of those arising from having engaged in complaints procedures in the past. [42543/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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112. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the terms of reference for the judge-led tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces into workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct; the timeline for the publication of the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42546/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 112 together.

The report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forceswas published following Government approval on 28^thMarch 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 consulted with the Attorney General in respect of the establishment of the Inquiry and in respect of the terms of reference. I have also engaged with key stakeholders to the process. Draft terms of reference for the Inquiry were shared with a wide variety of stakeholders who were in contact directly with me.

Having considered the range of views expressed, I determined that an open, independent and transparent appraisal of the issues raised by the IRG is the best way to examine the issues raised.

The Government approved, on 11th July 2023, the establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921 (as amended), to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

I am currently considering feedback received from a number of stakeholders on the draft terms of reference and I intend to revert to Government in the coming weeks to seek approval for the finalised terms of reference and for the appointment of a Judge to Chair the Tribunal.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 1 September 2023, Ireland is contributing 540 personnel to 7 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 342 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 132 personnel. A further 12 personnel are deployed with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).

Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). In the course of 2023, the Defence Forces had personnel deployed with the EU Training Mission in Mali. Their participation in that mission concluded last month. In addition to the four personnel currently deployed at the Operation Irini HQ in Rome, the Naval Service deployed the the LÉ William Butler Yeats to participate in the mission during the summer, where they contributed to the core task of the mission by stemming the flow of weapons into Libya. There are also four Defence Forces' personnel currently deployed with Operation Althea, the EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces Personnel overseas. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces for overseas deployment, given existing operational demands at home and overseas.

I am arranging to provide the Deputy with full details in tabular form of all Defence Forces' personnel currently serving overseas.