Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress being made on the creation of the chief of defence role, and supporting roles and the redesignation of the Air Corps and the Naval Service as the Air Force and the Navy respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17958/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Defence, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces published in November 2023 builds on the publication of the Commission Report itself in February 2022, the High Level Action Plan in July 2022 and the Early Actions Update published in March 2023. This plan sets out an ambitious programme of work to move to 'Level of Ambition 2' (LOA 2) by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the Commission's recommendations approved by Government.

The Commission on the Defence Forces also made significant recommendations around command and control of the Defence Forces including command being delegated from the Minister to the head of the Military to be titled Chief of Defence (CHOD).

Work is progressing on these Command and Control changes including the governance and oversight arrangements. A second Memorandum for Government in relation to high level command and control was approved July 2024 to prepare the necessary legislation on Command and Control (C2 ).

This work is significant, complex and sensitive involving a fundamental review of the current regulatory framework governing the relationship between the Minister for Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. This work is on-going with the intention to have heads of bill presented to the Government this year.

This work will also encompass the redesignation of the Air Corps and the Naval Service as the Air Force and the Navy.

Transformation efforts of the magnitude recommended by the Commission take time, and can only be successful if they are built on solid foundations. I have confidence that the structures that have been put in place, coupled with progress to date, will ensure the successful delivery of the transformation effort.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update in respect of the introduction of long-service increments (LSI) to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces; the date on which the awarding of the increment will commence; if the payment will be subject to backdated payments; and the number of personnel that will benefit from the LSI. [17986/25]