Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he will take to screen members of the Defence Forces for misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, or racist attitudes that could make them a threat to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28213/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question.

There is no place in the Defence Forces for an individual those attitudes.

I am advised by the Military Authorities that the conditions for entry to and service in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), including the methodologies used for assessments, are subject to continuous review and modification having regard to the needs of the organisation and the development of best practices.

Psychometric testing was introduced in 2012 to form part of the induction and candidate assessment process for General Service Recruits. In the intervening time, I have been advised that the Military Authorities have revised the approach to psychometric testing on a number of occasions and extended its use to the Cadetship and Apprenticeship Competitions. The result of a psychometric test is one of a number of factors utilised in determining overall suitability for admission to the PDF.

I have been further advised, as recommended by the IRG report, that the Defence Forces is piloting the use of a Cultural Capability Assessment test as part of the selection process for a number of bespoke competitions and will take learnings from the pilot for wider usage in the future.

In addition, all candidates must receive security clearance to be enlisted or inducted into the Defence Forces.

Security vetting has a number of layers and is conducted in conjunction with An Garda Síochána. The process has changed and has been modernised in recent years and is kept under ongoing review.

In line with the commitment to a cultural transformation programme and ensuring that all serving members, fully recognise and live by the values of the Defence Forces, an Organisational Culture Standing Committee (OCSC), which was conveyed by the Chief of Staff in November 2021, is driving and coordinating the process of cultural change within the Defence Forces. Similar structures have also been established in all Defence Forces Formations.

Since the launch of the OCSC, a number of culture change projects have been developed and implemented. These include,

• Sexual Ethics and Responsible Relationship (SERR) workshops. These workshops are ongoing since September 2023 and are mandatory for all personnel to attend;
• Briefing packages to all Defence Forces instructors and students;
• Gender, Diversity, Unconscious Bias Training;
• A series of videos representing the profiles of female serving personnel;
• The amplification of the ‘It Stops Now’ campaign.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the improvements that have been made in terms of pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28147/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, members of the Defence Forces have benefitted from a range of pay increases associated with national pay agreements. In addition to these pay increases, members of the Defence Forces have further benefitted from specific recommendations arising from recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF), which was established by Government in December 2020.

The Commission on the Defence Forces made a number of recommendations concerning pay structures, which have been implemented including:

• Removal of the requirement for a Private 3 Star/Able Seaman to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank (as detailed above in terms starting pay rates);
• Payment of the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank of all Private 3 Star/Able Seaman personnel.

• €39,714 in year 1
• €41,125 in year 2, and
• €42,425 in year 3

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of volunteers secured to participate in an EU Battlegroup. [28129/24]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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103. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will withdraw members of the Defence Forces from participation in a German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 103 together.

Military management has advised that 75% of the volunteers are secured with 139 EU Battlegroup appointments made to date out of the 186 personnel committed. The expectation is that the remaining posts will be fully filled in the coming months, in advance of the first EU Battlegroup 2025 training exercise in Germany in the autumn.

The 186 personnel will be comprised of a Group HQ consisting of 4 personnel, Mechanised Infantry Company (with a Company HQ, Infantry platoons and a weapons platoon consisting of 139 personnel) together with a National Support Element (consisting of 29 persons providing the necessary transport, medical, CIS, maintenance and ordnance support) and staff posts of 10 personnel to the Force Headquarters.

This figure of 186 personnel includes an additional 4 personnel posts in a National Logistics Support Group to be based in Germany to aid the transport and storage of DF equipment.

The Operational Headquarters (OHQ) is located in Ulm, Germany, while the Force Headquarters (FHQ) is based in Strasbourg, France.

Ireland’s active engagement in EU Battlegroups demonstrates our commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and demonstrates our commitment to the EU's Common Security & Defence Policy.

It 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 operations.

Furthermore, the Defence Forces participation in Battlegroups supports Ireland’s efforts in securing partners for peacekeeping operations due to the close civil and military relationships built through our participation, as well as in relation to demonstrating the interoperability of our Defence Forces.

Participation in a Battlegroup has no effect on our traditional policy of military neutrality and our commitment to a Battlegroup does not involve any commitment to common or mutual defence. There is no intention to withdraw members of the Defence Forces from participation in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current situation in south Lebanon; the current activities of the Defence Forces on the UNIFIL mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/24]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on Ireland’s participation with UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28195/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 101 together.

I remain deeply concerned by rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The potential for further regional escalation remains high. Reports received from UNIFIL indicate that the situation in Irish area of operation remains dynamic and unpredictable with kinetic activity continuing to emanate from North and South of the Blue Line. A widening of this conflict would have devastating consequences. It is vital that all parties work to de-escalate the situation.

As recently as May, I visited the Irish deployment in UNIFIL to gain a further appreciation of the situation on the ground facing our troops, as well as to express my own and the Government’s appreciation for the valuable role they carry out in South Lebanon. Indeed, I saw for myself two incidences of Israeli fire into South Lebanon while I was there.

It is important also to note that Defence Forces’ peacekeepers are well trained prior to deployment, including anticipating events such as occasions of sporadic fire in their Area of Operations, and including the circumstances in which they find themselves currently, which may require taking shelter in protected positions. In each of the missions in the Middle East including UNIFIL, personnel comply fully with all UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions (termed a GROUNDHOG) as and when appropriate.

Ireland is currently contributing 344 Defence Forces personnel to UNIFIL. The Government has also recently approved the deployment of an extra platoon of 33 Irish troops to serve as an additional force protection element with the Irish Battalion located in UNIFIL, and it is intended that these troops will deploy later this month.

The safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel stationed in the region remains of paramount concern to the Government however, and the Defence Forces remain in ongoing contact with the three UN missions in the Middle East (UNIFIL, UNTSO and UNDOF) throughout the current unrest, and advise that all Irish personnel are accounted for and are safe and well.

I remain in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on this matter, however and I and the Department of Defence are kept regularly apprised of all developments in those areas in which Defence Forces’ personnel are deployed. Both myself and Government will continue to monitor the situation closely along with our partners in the UN and the wider international community.