Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his engagement with a group (details supplied) and their legal representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50706/23]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he will bring forward the Terms of Reference for the Statutory Inquiry arising out of the Report of the Independent Review Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50707/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the Tribunal of Inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces; the timeline for same; the status of the terms of reference of the tribunal; the details of his engagement in the past month with a group (details supplied) with regard to the concerns they have raised over the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50890/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 73, 76 and 78 together.

The report of the Independent Review Group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forceswas published on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the Report, which included the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and transparency.

Draft Terms of Reference were prepared in consultation with the Attorney General and shared with a wide variety of interested parties, including the Women of Honour and their legal representatives.

In July, I obtained the approval of the Government to establish a Judge-led 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 and to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. I have continued to engage with a range of stakeholders to this process.

I have met with the Women of Honour and their legal representatives on a number of occasions, the most recent being on 27 September last, and I wrote to their legal representatives on 2 November last. Many of the additional terms and edits sought by the Women of Honour and their legal team, including their request for a statutory public inquiry have been included in the draft Terms of Reference for the Tribunal of Inquiry.

I have explained at these meetings, and in my correspondence, that the Terms of Reference must be clearly defined to ensure that the Tribunal is capable of completing the task assigned to it within a reasonable timeframe. I have also outlined that certain terms sought for inclusion will in fact be examined in separate, non-statutory investigations, in line with the recommendations in the IRG report.

Revised Terms of Reference have been shared with individuals and groups who have been in contact with my Office. I hope to meet with the Women of Honour Group again this week before I revert to Government in the coming weeks to seek approval for the Terms of Reference and for the appointment of a Judge to Chair the Tribunal.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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71. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how many Irish Defence Forces personnel will participate in a German-led EU battlegroup in 2024/2025; if the selection of any personnel through “mandatory selection” will be ruled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50900/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In January of this year, the Irish Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will be the eighth occasion on which the Defence Forces have been part of an EU Battlegroup and the first since 2020. The Battlegroup will be stood-up during 2024 and will be on standby throughout 2025. Any deployment of Defence Forces' personnel as part of the Battlegroup will be subject to the requirements of the triple lock.

Participation in EU Battlegroups supports the development of rapid deployment skills and capabilities within the Defence Forces, together with improved interoperability with like-minded States. Ireland's participation in EU Battlegroups also reflects Irelands support for the UN, where successive Secretaries General of the UN have endorsed the development of the EU Battlegroup concept and Ireland’s participation therein. Ireland’s active engagement in EU Battlegroups also demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and contributes to our overall credibility within the Union. It also enhances our capacity to influence the ongoing development and evolution of the rapid response capacity of the EU; in particular, the role Battlegroups can play in reinforcing and acting as a strategic reserve for UN blue-hat operations.

It is currently foreseen that the total number of the proposed Defence Forces contribution to the Battlegroup will be approximately 182 personnel. This will be comprised of a Mechanised Infantry Company (with a Company HQ, Infantry platoons and a weapons platoon consisting of 138 personnel) together with a National Support Element (consisting of 34 persons providing the necessary transport, medical, CIS, maintenance and ordnance support) and staff posts of 10 personnel to the Force Headquarters. The Operational Headquarters will be located in Ulm, Germany, while the Force Headquarters will be based in Strasbourg, France.

Unlike overseas deployments to UNIFIL for example, Defence Force participants will not be required to be sent overseas for long periods of time. While the period of the Battlegroup is for two years, most of the training and preparation will happen at home and will only require travelling for short term exercises at intervals.

In the event that there are insufficient numbers of volunteer personnel to fulfil all of the mission specific appointments, the Defence Forces may use a process of Mandatory Selection.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Collins Barracks, Cork will be the location of the headquarters of the military formation that will control military operations in the southern region of the country, in the new Defence Forces structure that emerges as a result of the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50898/23]

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. 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.

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. However, no decisions on the future disposition or locations of Defence Forces formations, installations and personnel have been made at this time.

In keeping with the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, work is progressing on the Army Force Design process in order to create “a more agile and flexible force design structure”.

An external consultant has been appointed with Terms of Reference assigned to consider how a future Army Force Design process should be planned and executed to meet current and future operational taskings and other government assigned tasks.

Phase one of the Force Design process is scheduled to be completed and submitted to the Chief of Staff for approval by the end of Q4 2023.

An Army Force Design Team has also been established with a Colonel Rank in the lead with initial supporting staff appointed and tasked to progress post-phase one planning.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO)presented their Member Engagement Survey 2023 at their Annual Delegates Conference last week and shared it with my Department in the last few days. My officials have requested a briefing on the findings therein.

I have previously acknowledged recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces and the initiatives underway to counter these challenges. These include ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, the re-entry schemes, the 'Be More' recruitment campaign, significant progress on basic pay, and the rollout of private medical care to all ranks.

I also recently announced the new Naval Service Patrol Duty Allowance to be introduced from 1 January 2024. This allowance will consolidate the current Patrol Duty Allowance and Sea Going Service Commitment scheme and could be worth in excess €20,000 per annum to personnel at sea. This was announced and welcomed at last week's RACO conference. The much improved PDA allowance is in addition to the private medical scheme announced recently as well as other initiatives for the Medical Officers .All of these improvements are to assist with recruitment and retention of the Defence Forces.

In other actions, a Joint Induction Training Centre has been established in Gormanston, with a view to increasing the throughput of recruits, the maximum age of entry has been increased to 29 years for General Service recruits, Cadets, apprentices, and certain specialists, and fitness test scoring has been amended to maximise induction levels.

External HR expertise has also been engaged to validate Defence Forces recruitment efforts and a marine specialist recruitment body has been contracted to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service.

My immediate focus remains on stabilising the numbers of personnel, and to facilitate capacity for further increases. This

will enable us to align ultimately with the level of ambition recommended in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, and agreed by Government.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel serving between the three UN missions in the Middle East region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50718/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 01 November, the Defence Forces have 468 personnel serving between the three UN missions in the Middle East region – UNIFIL (319), UNDOF (136) and UNTSO (13).

All personnel serving in UNIFIL, UNTSO and UNDOF are accounted for and are safe and well. In all cases, they are complying fully with UN security precautions, maintaining a high level of vigilance and continuing to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission areas.

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).

Full details of all personnel currently serving in all missions overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas

As of 01 November 2023