Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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186. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the progress of the national security strategy. [25320/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to our national security and defence, and work to give effect to these is already underway.

The Government is committed to the delivery of a revised National Security Strategy and work is ongoing in drawing up the strategy, co-ordinated by the National Security Secretariat in my Department and integrating inputs from a range of relevant stakeholders, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs; Defence; Justice; Environment, Climate and Communications; An Garda Síochána; the National Cyber Security Centre and the Defence Forces.

The preparation of a draft strategy covers a broad range of national security issues and it will include the implications of more recent security, defence and international developments and their related impacts, including the implementation of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

I recently established the Ministerial National Security Council, which comprises the Taoiseach as Chair, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for Defence and, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

The Ministerial Council will ensure that at the highest level there is a structured, ongoing review of our strategic national security interests and systematised monitoring of progress with delivery on the Government’s commitments in this area, including the delivery of a National Security Strategy.