Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.

Further additions to the EDP are currently under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to a higher level of ambition, known as LOA2, and in light of specific recommendations, associated with a move to LOA2, made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces last year.

The Defence Forces operate a fleet of 80 MOWAG Piranha III Armoured Fighting Vehicles, providing essential force protection to personnel serving overseas. The fleet is comprised of 53 Infantry Armoured People Carriers, 18 Cavalry Close Reconnaissance Vehicles, 6 Cavalry Medium Reconnaissance Vehicles and 3 Ambulance Variant Vehicles. The vehicles came into service in three phases, in 2002 (40 vehicles), 2004 (25 vehicles) and 2007 (15 vehicles). In recent years there has been significant investment in the armoured fleet of vehicles with the enhancement of force protection and mobility with the mid-life refit of the MOWAG Piranha III vehicles project nearing completion. To date 74 of the 80 vehicles have completed the Midlife Upgrade Programme and have returned to service. The final six vehicles are expected to complete the programme later this year. This programme will ensure the viability of the fleet beyond 2030.

Following the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, the Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2). This will entail funding increases to reach a Defence budget of approximately €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates.

This level of capital funding will allow a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.

A key recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces which has been accepted in principle is the “replacement of the existing APCs with a larger and enhanced fleet equipped with sufficient firepower for future overseas missions, and with ‘level 4’ armour across armour platforms where required”.

The Detailed Implementation Plan released in November 2023 builds on the progress made to date and sets out the planned timeline for Armoured Fleet Replacement by 2028. It is important to note that specific timelines for projects for the enhancement of capabilities can be impacted by many factors from procurement strategy to external factors such as the internal defence market and the global, regional and local trends affecting it and accordingly require a flexible and adaptable approach.

A joint civil / military project team are continuing their work of research into various delivery options as well as consideration of approaches internationally with the objective of learning from best practice. Governance structures to manage this programme of work are also in place. Significant progress has been made to date at the early stages of this project.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government.

Enhancing the physical working environment and equipment for our Defence Personnel is key feature of the recently published Strategic Framework which sets out the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

This includes the implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) recommendations, particularly with regard to the enhancement of Defence Force Capabilities. The Commission's report included a wide range of further recommendations in relation to capabilities and funding.

In response, the Government approved a move to a higher level of ambition, known as ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission. More specifically, capability priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered as part of the capability development planning processes which include both a five-year Equipment Development Plan and a Built Infrastructure Programme. This is an ongoing iterative process. In this context, the principal aim of Government policy is to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements at home and overseas.

There has been significant investment in recent years in the air domain.

Currently the Air Corps have twenty six (26) aircraft in service comprised of sixteen (16) fixed wing and ten (10) rotary wing aircraft.

The fixed wing aircraft are as follows:

• Two (2) Airbus C-295 aircraft which entered service in 2024. These new aircraft, which replace the two existing CN235-100 Maritime Patrol Aircrafts purchased for the Air Corps in 1994, are equipped for Maritime Surveillance, Search and Rescue, Logistics (Cargo/Personnel/VIP), Special Operations Forces Operations, MEDEVAC/CASEVAC/Air Ambulance roles and Utility roles.
• Two (2) CASA CN-235 aircraft, which entered service in 1994. Their primary function has been as Maritime Patrol Aircraft, while also functioning in the secondary roles of air ambulance, logistics support and transport. These aircraft are due for disposal this year, having been replaced by the two (2) Airbus C-295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
• One (1) Learjet 45, which entered service in 2004. It's primary function is a Ministerial Air Transport (MATS) aircraft. The Learjet, also functions in the roles of air ambulance and transport as required.
• Four (4) Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which entered service in 2020. Their primary function is Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), they also function in air ambulance and transport roles as required.
• Eight (8) Pilatus PC-9M aircraft which entered service in 2004. Their primary function is pilot training.
• One (1) Britten Norman Defender 4000 which entered service in 1997. This aircraft is operated in conjunction with An Garda Síochána as a Garda Air Support Unit aircraft.

The ten (10) rotary wing aircraft are as follows:

• Six (6) Augusta Westland AW139 aircraft. The AW 139s entered service in 2006 and their primary functions are as army/naval support and air ambulance including the Emergency Aeromedical Service. These aircraft can also function in the roles of aerial fire-fighting, cargo-slinging and transport.
• Two (2) Eurocopter EC135P2 aircraft which entered service in 2005. Their primary functions are helicopter pilot training and army support, they may also function in the roles of air ambulance and transport as required.
• Two (2) Eurocopter EC135T2. These aircraft entered service in 2003 and are operated in conjunction with An Garda Síochána as a Garda Air Support Unit aircraft.

In relation to new air-based capability, a contract has been awarded at a cost of €59million, excluding VAT, for the provision of a new Fixed Wing Military Transport Aircraft for the Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in mid 2025.

In addition, a competitive process is underway to acquire a new mid-sized jet aircraft to replace the Learjet which has been in service for 19 years and is near its end-of-life. It is the intention is that this competitive process will be completed this year.

New rotary wing capabilities are currently being advanced in the context of the Equipment Development Planning process, and to this end, the various work packages under the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces have commenced which will inform future investment decisions.

The recent review of the National Development Plan allocations has resulted in a significant increase in the capital funding allocated to Defence, with a total of €435m allocated for 2025 and 2026. This increase in Capital funding 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.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Operation Irini is a UN mandated EU Naval mission in the eastern Mediterranean and its primary task is the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya using aerial, satellite and maritime assets. The mission was launched on 31 March 2020 with the aim creating the conditions for a permanent ceasefire in Libya by stemming the flow of weapons into the country.

Ireland currently has three members of the Defence Forces deployed to the Operational Headquarters of the Operation Irini mission in Rome in staff officer posts and a further officer is assigned to the Floating Headquarters. Government approval was secured for these appointments on 18 May 2020.

Additionally, in 2023, following Government and Dáil approval, the L.É. William Butler Yeats and a crew of 58 personnel deployed as part of Operation Irini for a period of six weeks in the summer of 2023 demonstrating Ireland’s support for the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security.

In addition to its primary task, Operation Irini has a number of secondary tasks: monitoring of oil smuggling from Libya; capacity-building of the Libyan Coastguard; and the detection and monitoring of human smuggling networks.

As part of their deployment in June and July of 2023, the L.É. William Butler Yeats and its crew of 58 Defence Forces personnel conducted the following operations.

• Counter Illegal Arms Trafficking and Gathering Information on Oil Smuggling;
• L.É. William Butler Yeats completed 71 Hailing's and conducted six (6) Friendly Approaches;
• It also gathered information by hailing vessels on VHF radio and capturing images of vessels.

With regard to Capacity Building and Training of the Libyan Coast Guard, Ireland had formally declared caveats to the Operational Headquarters in Rome to indicate that Ireland would not engage in any such training. In any event there are currently no ongoing activities in the secondary task of Capacity Building and Training to the Libyan Coast Guard.

The current mandate of Op Irini expires in March 2025. A mid-term strategic assessment of the mission took place earlier this year with a strategic review of the mission due to take place before the expiry of the mandate.