Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of unspent defence budget returned to the Exchequer for the years 1989 to 2024, in tabular form. [6821/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently compiling the information for the 36 years requested by the Deputy and will respond fully as soon as the information is complete.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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147. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his approach to the use of artificial intelligence by the Defence Forces and its use generally in international conflicts. [6889/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In terms of cyber security, the primary role of the Defence Forces (DF) relates to the defence and security of DF networks and systems. I have been informed by the military authorities that recent Information Communications Technology (ICT) transformation and upgrade projects in the DF security architecture allows for certain security focused applications to leverage AI to enhance the security posture of the DF network.

From an operational and security perspective, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific details of measures taken in relation to cyber security.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has reviewed the global study The Military Balance 2025 conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies which reveals Ireland is at the bottom of the European table of 38 countries for defence spend as a percentage of GDP; if he has carried out any assessment of our spend as a percentage of gross national income (GNI) given the complexity of Ireland’s economy being measured in GDP terms and where Ireland comparatively ranks using a GNI comparator; and if he expects greater demands on our defence expenditure in 2026 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7102/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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International comparison of military expenditure is hindered by the lack of publicly available data, along with the breadth of difference between nations in their international security and defence policies. In that regard, I welcome the recent publication of ‘The Military Balance 2025’, as conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which comprehensively and objectively analyses differing defence perspectives, priorities and budgets across over 170 countries, bringing them together in a single publication.

I fully acknowledge that there is an ongoing requirement to consider whether the defence capabilities we maintain are appropriate, having regard to the prevailing security environment, associated risks and the roles envisaged for the Defence Forces, both national and international. It is for these very reasons that the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was commissioned. This far-reaching, independent report, published in 2022, comprehensively evaluated Defence policy, capability and funding matters. The implementation of this report’s recommendations, through the Strategic Framework and Detailed Implementation Plan, are facilitating huge levels of strategic transformation in the Defence Forces.

As part of this report, it highlighted, inter alia, that Ireland’s defence spending both as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of GNI* was comparatively low across EU Member States. However, in the period since the publication of the Report, the Defence Vote Group budget has risen substantially, to €1.35 billion in 2025, a 23% increase since 2022. This represents significant progress on the Government’s commitment to increase the Defence budget to €1.5 billion by 2028, at 2022 prices, as part of the annual budgetary process. For 2026, it is my intention to build further on these increases, as part of upcoming Estimates and associated National Development Plan review discussions.