Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

121. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the exact title of each Minister of State in his Department; to outline their delegated functions and attributable budget heading for each of those functions; the timeframe for when such delegated functions will be formally notified to the Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4603/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Mr. Thomas Byrne TD is the Minister of State at the Department of Defence. He is also Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. He was appointed by the Taoiseach to these separate roles on 29th January 2025.

This Department has no attributable budget for the Minister of State as no formal functions of the Minister for Defence have been delegated to the Minister of State. Full responsibility for Defence policies, the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces remains with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. However the Minister of State assists and performs functions, including Oireachtas business, as assigned by me as Minister for Defence, on my behalf. The role of the Minister for EU Affairs does not come under the remit of the Department of Defence.

Responsibilities of the Minister of State in the Department of Defence include the following:

• Deputising for the Minister on Defence matters;
• Taking all or specific stages of Defence legislation through the Oireachtas;
• Taking Oral Parliamentary Questions;
• Taking Private Members Business (opening or closing statements) relevant to Defence areas of responsibility;
• Taking Dáil topical issues, Seanad Commencement matters relevant to Defence areas of responsibility; and
• Being a member of the Council of Defence pursuant to Section 11 of the Defence Act 1954.