Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Irish Defence Force's army force design process; when it will be completed; when will the results be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended "The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process." The reasoning for the requirement for international support is the lack of such experience and expertise in the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces have established Force Design teams within the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps and an overarching strategic force design office as part of the project under the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. They also appointed consultants to help them with this work.

Ministerial approval was granted in November 2024 to proceed with this design process and the Force Design teams are working with the experts in designing a structure for a modern force of Ireland’s size taking into account the Defence Forces roles and the capabilities required to deliver these roles. It should also be noted that the geopolitical environment, which has changed substantially since the Commission on the Defence Forces reported, will also have to be factored into a future force design. This is complicated and challenging work which we need to get right to ensure that we design a modern force which is fit for purpose for future generations.

A 2025 work programme has been agreed which will be progressed throughout the year with completion by the end of 2025 expected. The report will then be subject to Ministerial review.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will confirm that qualified members of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service can enter promotion competitions for chief of staff and both deputy chief of staff positions. [29447/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The position in relation to eligibility for Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff positions is as follows: -

Officers currently serving substantively in the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Commodore or Captain (Naval Service), are eligible to apply in promotion competitions for the Chief of Staff position.

Currently serving Brigadier-Generals, and Colonels or equivalents in the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps (other than Medical Officers, the Military Judge and the Director of Military Prosecutions) are eligible to apply in competitions for the role of Deputy Chief of Staff (Support). subject to certain criteria specified in Defence Force Regulations.

In relation to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), in addition to the eligibility criteria for Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), officers in the post of Captain(NS) Support in the Naval Service and in the rank of Colonel (Support) in the Air Corps (where such officer is not a pilot) or in the post of DLS are not be eligible to compete for appointment.

The criteria for such competitions are reviewed on an ongoing basis, with a number of key changes made to the criteria and the process for the forthcoming Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) Competition.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will confirm that qualified members of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service were previously able to serve as assistant chief of staff but that this is no longer the case. [29448/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when Defence Forces regulations were amended prohibiting suitably qualified members of the Air Corps and Naval Service from filling the role of assistant chief of staff; the rationale for this decision; and if, in view of the emphasis of the Commission on the Defence Forces on the need for truly joint high-level leadership and the recommendation that the future assistant chief of defence role be a joint appointment, he continues to support the prohibition on suitably qualified members of the Air Corps and Naval Service competing for the position of assistant chief of staff. [29449/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.

I propose to take PQs 29448/25 and 29449/25 together. The Assistant Chief of Staff role is an appointment made at the level of Brigadier-General. The terms and conditions governing the appointment of a Brigadier-General are set out in Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A15 as follows:

Currently serving Army Colonels who have been recommended for promotion will be eligible to apply for promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General (Army) subject to certain criteria outlined in the regulation.

Currently serving Colonels in the Army, Air Corps and Captains (NS) in the Naval Service who have been recommended for promotion will be eligible to apply for promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General/Commodore (MILREP), while currently serving Colonels in the Air Corps and Captains (NS) in the Naval Service who have been recommended for promotion will be eligible to apply for promotion to the ranks of Brigadier General (GOC AC) and Commodore (FOCNS) respectively.

There are currently eight Brigadier General appointments within the Defence Forces with six appointments in the Army line, one in the Air Corps and one in the Naval Service. The role of Assistant Chief of Staff has typically been filled by a serving member of the Army as this role involves a high level of expertise within the Army line. I understand that this has been the position for a significant number of years. I will revert to the Deputy on when exactly the Assistant Chief of Staff position was identified as an Army appointment when I have the information to hand.

The eligibility for promotion competitions and the selection process for senior military positions is continuously under review. There have been a number of changes to both the selection process and selection criteria for the recent Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and certain Brigadier General competitions. I am open to continuing to exploring opportunities in that regard.