Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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231. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the advice he has received on the crime of aggression and the risk to Irish troops on peacekeeping missions without a UN mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces for overseas deployment, given existing operational demands at home and overseas. Military advice in terms of security and risk assessments is also a significant part of the considerations.

'Crimes of aggression' is where individuals violating international law governing the use of force may be charged with the crime of aggression or crimes against peace under the UN Charter, and where matters relating to a UNSC veto can prevent same. Given that our Defence Forces are covered by Status of Forces Agreements in relation to their participation in UN, EU or NATO led missions, this issue does not arise.

However, as part of the Pre-legislative Scrutiny process on the General Scheme relating to the dispatch of members of the Defence Forces overseas ,as well as the various stages of the Bill in the Oireachtas, there will be many issues discussed and debated which may include the matter of 'crimes of aggression'.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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232. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of unspent allocation for Defence Forces staffing in each year since 2018 based on the revised estimate for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11317/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Pay funding for Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel is provided from Subhead A.3: Permanent Defence Force: Pay in the Defence Vote. The table below outlines the allocation, expenditure and unspent allocation within this subhead, over the period from 2018 to 2024.

The unspent allocation in this subhead over this period arose primarily from Permanent Defence Force numbers falling below the target strength. However, the figures for PDF numbers provided for 2024 indicate a stabilisation in numbers. There were 708 personnel inducted in 2024, the highest in over five years. In addition, there were 674 discharges, 81 fewer than the previous year and the lowest since 2020. The Defence Forces have further advised that they are targeting 800 inductions this year

Throughout the period in question, in accordance with Government accounting procedures and agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, any unused allocation arising on this and other subheads in the Defence Vote, were utilised to address spending pressures elsewhere in Defence. This prudent approach has ensured that only €36 million (0.6%) of the overall gross allocation of €5,741 million allocated to the Defence Vote over the 2018-2024 period remained unspent.

It should also be noted that public sector pay rates are determined centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, therefore, the Department of Defence does not have any unilateral authority to ring-fence and utilise any of this unused pay expenditure to increase PDF pay.