Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to Government, that I, as Tánaiste and Minister of Defence, remain in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff, and that the Department of Defence is kept apprised of all developments in those areas in which Defence Forces’ personnel are deployed. Furthermore, all reasonable measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of all Defence Forces' personnel. All Defence Forces’ personnel, including personnel serving in Lebanon (with UNTSO and UNIFIL), are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission areas, which remains dynamic and unpredictable.

I wish to also assure the Deputy that Defence Forces’ peacekeepers are well trained prior to deployment and prepared to anticipate events such as occasions of sporadic fire in their Area of Operations. This includes complying fully with all UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions as appropriate, as they have had to do on several occasions since the outbreak of hostilities. Contingency planning and risk assessments are part and parcel of the planning in operational deployments and are carried out on a continual basis.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely along with our partners in the UN and the wider international community.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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170. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the rationale, timeline of meetings and decisions in the lead up to and current withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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171. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force given the increasing tension and potential for conflict in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11336/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission was taken on the basis of Military advice received in early 2023 in order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil its commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, as well as allowing the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions.

Planning for the withdrawal of the current Defence Forces' contingent (the 68th Infantry Group) and their replacement is well advanced, involving the United Nations, the Force Headquarters, the current Irish contingent and the replacement Troop Contributing Country to ensure a smooth handover that in no way compromises the mission.

There is no plan to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Group from the UNDOF mission. The replacement Troop Contributing Country (Kazakhstan) has been selected to take over the role of the Force Reserve Company in the Mission, following the scheduled Irish departure in April 2024, and plans at UN and Troop Contributing Country level are well advanced in this regard. Mission reconnaissance by Kazakhstani troops took place in late 2023, and an advance party of Kazakhstani troops is currently in-theatre, in advance of the Defence Forces departure.

Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the Infantry Group, the Defence Forces intend to continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts at the UNDOF mission HQ.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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172. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the Reserve Defence Force recruitment competition; the number of recruitment liaison officers currently working on the reserve recruitment competition; the Reserve Defence Force's role in the future plans for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11337/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF). The Director of ORA, how holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan.

A recruitment drive for the RDF was launched last year in October 2023, which was advertised across a number of media channels. Other strategies employed have involved the use of social media, the Defence Forces Press Office, outreach activities by RDF members, and the use of PDF exit interviews which provided information on applying to the RDF.

The induction of personnel has been facilitated through the implementation of the Managed Induction Process whereby each applicant is assigned a Recruitment Liaison Officer (RLO) who maintains contact with them throughout the induction process. The aim of this close liaison is to facilitate an expeditious and efficient recruitment process from application to attestation. 41 RDF units are currently open for applications from potential recruits. Each of these units has at least one Recruitment Liaison Officer.

Work has also been completed on streamlining the two-stage medical process and fitness testing is now completed before medicals. To date, there are over 800 live applications resulting from the Oct 2023 campaign, with 83 medicals completed.

In terms of the strength and structure of the RDF, one of the recommendations from the Report is to increase the future RDF establishment strength to include at a minimum, an Air Force Reserve of 200, and a Navy Reserve of 400.

A more robust and streamlined recruitment process lends itself also to the CoDF recommendations relating to the structure and strength of the RDF.

The Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers in the RDF. Upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF are being examined, in the context of recently announced changes for the Permanent Defence Force.

The ultimate goal is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both on-island and overseas. The recent amendment to the Defence Act pertaining to the Reserve provides for this.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2024 and beyond.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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173. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to clarify whether personnel leaving the Permanent Defence Force are able to join the Reserve Defence Force while retaining the rank they previously held in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year.

The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve. Subject to their meeting certain criteria, Defence Force Regulation R5 provides that former enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force may be enlisted at the non-commissioned rank last held by them, if a vacancy exists in the Establishment for that rank. If a vacancy does not exist, they may enlist in a lower rank where there is a vacancy.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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174. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to comment on the medical resources currently assigned to the Reserve Defence Force and the issues highlighted in the past with a lack of resourcing resulting in slow progression of applications; what measure he will take to ensure efficient progression of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). A RDF recruitment competition was relaunched in October 2023, where, to date, there are over 800 live applications resulting from this campaign.

There has been ongoing and recent progress on the medical phase of the induction process with work completed on streamlining the two-stage medical process and fitness testing is now completed before medicals.

There is a contract in place to outsource the Part 2 medicals over a four-year period for both the PDF and the RDF, amounting to some 10,000 medicals in total and it is planned to include 600 RDF induction medicals per year as part of this overall target over the 4 year period.

The military authorities have also advised that they are currently undertaking a number of other actions which include the consideration of on-boarding of recruits following the provision of a “Certificate for Service with the RDF” signed by their civilian General Practitioner. This will allow recruits to come through the doors, maintaining a connection with the Defence Forces, while awaiting a full Defence Forces medical to commence formal recruit training.

I am also assured that additional medical resources are being assigned to ensure the completion of a further 100 reserve induction medicals in March and April 2024, with the intention to ensure that 200 recruits are inducted no later than Quarter 3 of 2024.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2024 and beyond.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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175. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the work undertaken by the Office of Reserve Affairs to strengthen the Reserve Defence Force; the number of staff currently working in the Office of Reserve Affairs; the number of vacancies currently within the Office of Reserve Affairs; to clarify whether the Office of Reserve Affairs will only be staffed by current and former Defence Forces personnel or also civilian staff; the timeline on the delivery of the Office of Reserve Affairs regeneration plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11340/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), the Director of ORA, who holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan, in addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF.

As the Deputy will be aware, a recruitment competition was launched in October 2023. This competition is ongoing and the ORA are supporting the induction process at all stages.

The ORA is also tasked to support the day to day functioning of the RDF. This function includes the administration of Reservists pay, the updating of regulations pertaining to the RDF and all other aspects of administrative support.

The strategic objective for the Reserve Defence Force is to create a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, nationally and internationally. The ORA is tasked with a range of work packages associated with the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces. These work packages and the associated timelines are outlined in the published Detailed Implementation Plan.

I am advised that a broad spectrum of initiatives are currently under development, to enable the RDF to deliver enhanced military capabilities where and when required in support of the PDF. These initiatives, and the enabling actions, will be outlined in the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration and Development Plan which has been drafted by the Office of Reserve Affairs. The plan is currently in the approval phase and I am informed that this is due for publication early in Q3 this year as per the Detailed Implementation Plan.

The ORA will be staffed by personnel of the PDF and RDF including members of the First Line Reserve. There are currently seven personnel assigned to the ORA. This includes one Reservist. The next phase of resource allocation will be implemented later this year with an additional five PDF personnel assigned to the office. The assignment of additional Reservists will also take place this year. There are currently no plans for a civilian staff in the ORA.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2024 and beyond.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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176. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider changing the application for former Defence Forces members to join First Line Reserve and extending the window of opportunity in which former members could apply rather than only being asked during their retirement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11341/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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177. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason he believes the number of former officers who were members of the Defence Forces First Line Reserve dropped sharply since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11342/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.

The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR.

The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve. This is subject to their meeting certain criteria. Direct entry to the FLR is limited to personnel who are departing the PDF and have undertaken, either voluntarily or on foot of a contractual commitment, to complete a period of service in the FLR.

The Military Authorities have advised that as of 31 January 2024, the strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) is 282, comprising of 5 Officers, 46 Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and 231 Privates.

I can confirm that the FLR is an area, which will be examined, in the context of work arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF).

As an interim measure, the Department continues to receive business cases from the Military Authorities for applications for officers wishing to join the FLR. The applications are assessed by the Minister on a case by case basis having regard to the particular skills-sets of the officer.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my intention, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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178. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the plans to assign representatives of the Defence Forces to Irish embassies around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11343/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence recognised the need for the Department of Defence to continue to engage in developing and deepening bilateral relations with potential like-minded partners to secure Ireland’s position in current and future international crisis management operations. The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces further supported this view. A joint civilian/military project team was subsequently formed to examine options in this respect and a project was formally initiated in May 2023. This project has recently been completed.

This project aimed to explore the benefits to Ireland of establishing a Defence Attaché (DA) network, to look at the potential appropriate composition and duties of the role of a Defence Attaché, and to consider how such a network could build on existing bilateral relations.

The project also explored the potential for the deployment, as a pilot, of a DA in one of the Irish embassies of strategic value and importance to Defence and Foreign Policy goals, where strong engagement exists on defence matters.

While the the Project report has been completed, it has not yet been considered in full. Consultations continue to take place with a range of stakeholders in particular, the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Recommendations from this project will be considered, following conclusion of these discussions with the agreement of timelines and the project costs are assessed.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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179. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of personnel and their rank assigned to the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11344/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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180. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of vacancies and, at what rank, there were in the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11345/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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181. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of applications made to join either the general service or cadet ranks of the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps in 2023 and up to the present date in 2024; how many of these applicants were invited to take part in training; how many of these trainees completed their training; the rank at which they were commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11346/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have advised that it is not possible to provide the data in the format requested by the Deputy, without an extensive exercise in tracking, on an individual application basis, applicants that were inducted and subsequently completed their training. Additionally, applications made in any one year may not complete the recruitment process within that year, and thereafter the training period may extend into a further year. For example, applications made in 2023 may result in inductions in 2024, and if late in 2024, training will not be completed until 2025.

The military authorities have provided the following information, by Branch and year, for General Service Recruits (GSR) and Cadets:

*as at 29/02/2024

The military authorities have further advised that the first inductions due in 2024 are scheduled to take place shortly. In respect of Cadets, the 2024 Cadetship competition has yet to launch while the Cadet class of 2023 will continue in training until 2025. In 2024, as at 31 January, no General Service Recruits had completed training.

General Service recruits undertake recruit and 2 star training before becoming 3 star privates (Able Seaman Naval Service) on successful completion of such training. The rank that Cadets are commissioned at following their training is dependent on the relevant educational qualifications they possessed when applying to the Defence Forces. Cadets who were school leavers/non graduates on application to the Defence Forces are commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenants (Ensign Naval Service) while those who were graduate applicants are commissioned as Lieutenants (Sub Lieutenant Naval Service).

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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182. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of people currently employed within his Department highlighting their grade; how many vacancies there currently are within his Department, highlighting their grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table sets out the numbers within the civil service grades employed within my Department across various locations. Recruitment is ongoing with a view to the filling of current vacancies. It should be noted that the number of Assistant Secretaries includes the Defence Forces' Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR, who are among 13 civil servants from the Department who are embedded in military units providing a range of specialist inputs including procurement, analytical, and financial expertise.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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183. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence given the recent increase in the age limit entry requirement for An Garda Síochána, if he will consider increasing the age limit entry requirements to join the Defence Forces, for both general service and cadetships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11348/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 5 March 2024, the Government approved an increase in the maximum age of recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force to 39 years for those roles with a current recruitment age below 39 years. The measure will take effect from 29 March 2024 and will apply to General Service Recruits, Cadets and certain specialists. This increase was facilitated by a decision to increase the mandatory retirement age for all Permanent Defence Force personnel to age 60, where their current mandatory retirement age is less than this figure.