Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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225. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the milestones that have been reached by the 11 actions within the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan that are directly linked to the Commission on the Defence Forces Work Packages. [31700/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to provide a response within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once a response is compiled.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the number of reserve training and support days completed in 2024; and the number of such days envisaged for 2025. [31703/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to provide a response within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once a response is compiled.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the work undertaken by his Department in reviewing the framework governing the relationship between the Minister for Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. [31704/25]

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. There were 69 main recommendations and with sub recommendations there were 130 recommendations in total. 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 covered high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

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). Currently, military command is delegated from the Minister for Defence (on behalf of the Government) to five separate high ranking military Officers commanding Army Brigade units, the Naval Service and Air Corps (all Brigadier General rank).

The Commission in their report stated "The Commission understands that these proposals, and in particular the creation of a CHOD, will impact significantly on current governance structures, and recognises therefore, that the future governance and oversight framework of the Minister and the Department of Defence will need to be redesigned to provide effective assurance and accountability. This area is beyond the Terms of Reference of the Commission and is not therefore further developed in this report."

Work is progressing on these command and control changes and the governance and oversight arrangements including the framework governing the relationship between the Minister for Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. A second Memorandum for Government in relation to high level command and control was approved last year (July) to prepare the necessary legislation on Command and Control (C2). This work is significant, complex and sensitive. It involves 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 in the near future.

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.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the work of his Department in identifying key governance reforms required to modernise the Defence Forces to bring high-level structures in line with international comparators. [31705/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended in its 2022 report 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 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.

There are a number of Government approved Commission recommendations contained in the report in relation to high level command and control and structures. Work has been ongoing 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 in 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 in near future. This work will also encompass the redesignation of the Air Corps and the Naval Service as the Air Force and the Navy.

The Commission in their report stated "The Commission understands that these proposals, and in particular the creation of a CHOD, will impact significantly on current governance structures, and recognises therefore, that the future governance and oversight framework of the Minister and the Department of Defence will need to be redesigned to provide effective assurance and accountability. This area is beyond the Terms of Reference of the Commission and is not therefore further developed in this report."

The legislation currently under consideration is looking at these governance structures and how they can be enhanced in the context of command being delegated to the head of the Defence Forces and the overall transformation of the Defence Forces.

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.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on any stakeholder engagement that has or will take place towards the goal of modernising the Defence Forces governance in line with international best practice. [31706/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As Minister, 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 recommended in its 2022 report 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 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.

Much progress has been achieved since the Report on the Commission of the Defence Forces was published in 2022, with 43 recommendations completed to date and many others near completion. Government noted that, in light of the Commission’s report, there is an urgent need for HR and cultural transformation in the Defence Forces and this has been prioritised.

There are a number of Government approved Commission recommendations contained in the report in relation to high level command and control and structures which impact on governance. Work has been ongoing 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 in 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 in the near future.

The Commission in their report stated "The Commission understands that these proposals, and in particular the creation of a CHOD, will impact significantly on current governance structures, and recognises therefore, that the future governance and oversight framework of the Minister and the Department of Defence will need to be redesigned to provide effective assurance and accountability. This area is beyond the Terms of Reference of the Commission and is not therefore further developed in this report."

The legislation currently under consideration is looking at these governance structures and how they can be enhanced in the context of command being delegated to the head of the Defence Forces and the overall transformation of the Defence Forces.

My Department has looked at other countries defence governance and this has helped inform their deliberations. Each country's governance structure is unique but there are insights to be gained from such analysis.

There will be engagement with relevant stakeholders including the Oireachtas, the Representative Associations and the External Oversight Body. The legislative process for the forthcoming changes on Command and Control include the pre legislative scrutiny of draft heads of Bill by the Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security. This will cover elements of Governance with work continuing on the modernising of Defence Forces Governance as part of the transformation of the Defence Forces as set out in the Strategic Framework.

A great deal of work still needs to be done and it will need concerted effort by all involved.

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.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Ministerial management board meetings he has attended since his appointment. [31707/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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While the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024, it is in the process of being commenced. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed

A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and engagement with Government Bodies is due to be completed in the coming weeks. Following this, a wider public consultation on exempted development regulations will be undertaken at the end of this month. Members of the public, State bodies and other concerned parties will be able to make submissions in writing as part of the consultation process.

The Government cannot pre-empt the outcome of any consultation and therefore no decision has been made in respect of any revisions to current exempted development provisions. This includes exemptions for larger unattached structures and modular housing in back gardens. Any update to Exempted Development Regulations will require positive resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas before it can be signed into law.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the number of meetings of the Defence Forces board; and the most senior female member of the Defence Forces has attended in 2025, and in 2024, as is provided for. [31708/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces Board (DFB) is comprised of the following members:

• Chief of Staff (COS)
• Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS) Operations
• Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS) Support
• Assistant Chief of Staff (ACoS)
• Head of Strategic HR (HoSHR)
• Head of Transformation (HoT)
• Gender Advisor (GENAD)

Please see table outlining the information requested by the Deputy for 2024 and 2025:

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has met with the senior leadership forum within his Department since his appointment. [31709/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since I took office, I have met with Senior Leadership. I am in regular contact with the Secretary General, the Chief of Staff, members of the Management Board, and Defence Forces Senior Leadership team and will meet them all periodically throughout my term in office.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for Defence if any new EU Common Security and Defence related initiatives are under consideration within his Department following the EU White Paper on Defence. [31710/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, published on 19 March 2025, is a Joint Communication by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the EU Commission that seeks to mitigate some of the threats and challenges Europe collectively faces, by focussing on projects to achieve enhanced surveillance and situational awareness. As the Deputy will be aware, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has changed the European security environment dramatically. EU Member States including Ireland are faced with a multitude of threats and challenges to its security.

The White Paper was accompanied by the Re-ARM plan, a series of financial measures aimed at boosting defence finance including the SAFE instrument (Security and Action for Europe) , and a Communication on accommodating increased defence expenditure within the Stability and Growth Pact. The proposals that are in the White Paper put forward options on how Member States can make the investments necessary in the coming years in a collaborative way that strengthen the European defence industrial base and reduces dependencies outside of the Union.

Like other EU Member States, Ireland recognises the need to enhance our individual and collective preparedness and capability across all areas of security and defence, and this will require investment. The White Paper proposals are expected to incentivise Member States to cooperate more on capability development – to procure together more regularly and to procure from the European defence industry. In this regard, there will be a number of capability development focussed 'Projects of Interest' launched which Ireland may participate in.

The White Paper also sets out a long-term vision to encourage greater cooperation between the EU and Ukraine defence industries to allow Ukraine to participate in joint procurement and support Ukrainian defence industry in its industrial ramp-up. This contributes to Ukraine’s integration to the EU which Ireland welcomes.

The detail of the initiatives proposed from the White Paper and any knock-on implications in terms of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy will be worked through in the coming weeks and months, and Ireland will constructively continue to engage at EU level in this regard, in line with its policy of military neutrality.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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236. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on his Department’s priorities for Ireland’s term of the EU Presidency. [31776/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time in 2026 - from 1 July to 31 December. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying across both the policy and operational strands of planning within my Department and across Government.

My Department's key priority in the period ahead is to effectively chair the security and defence sphere for the duration of the Presidency, as we have done on each occasion Ireland has held the EU presidency to date. Our priorities in this regard will be developed in line with national priorities in this area, the EU Strategic Agenda for 2024 - 2029 and the range of legislative initiatives proposed by the European Commission, including those set out in the Commission's 2025 Work Programme published in February.

My Department's priorities will feed into overall Presidency priorities that will be agreed by Government and will be published before the start of the Presidency. The programme is currently in development, and the priorities therein will be the Government's objectives for the duration of the Presidency and an important reflection of Ireland's place within the EU.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the progress of his Department in creating the next White Paper Update, as set out in the White Paper on Defence, 2015. [31778/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 White Paper on Defence established a fixed cycle of defence reviews to ensure Defence policy remains current, agile and adaptive to the prevailing security environment. The first iteration of these reviews was the White Paper Update published in 2019.

The Defence Policy Review 2024 'Adjusting and affirming our Defence policy in an era of change' is the latest in this cycle of reviews and lays out Government Defence policy to 2028. The DPR was drafted in the context of the Governments agreed recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Independent Review Group.

The first stage of the DPR was a revised Security Environment Assessment (SEA), conducted by an interdepartmental and interagency working group. The work of this group was led by the Department of Defence and also comprised representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach; Justice; Foreign Affairs; Environment, Climate and Communications; The National Cyber Security Centre; Transport as well as the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. This Security Environment Assessment informed the overall policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing as part of the Defence Policy Review.

This review, which lays out Government Policy to 2028, reaffirms, and where appropriate, revises our Defence Policy and the posture of the Defence Forces in response to the prevailing security environment and the wider national and international defence landscape.

As well as affirming our commitment to deepening and broadening defence and security cooperation the review highlights a number of key priorities for the period to 2028. These include:

• a focus on maritime security. My department will lead on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy.
• an immediate focus on the development of an Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance System for Air, Land and Sea domains for Ireland
• implementation of changes to command and control and required governance and accountability, all of which are vital to the necessary transformation of the Defence Forces.

Our Defence policy will remain iterative and adaptive to the threat environment and will continue to be subject to a fixed cycle of defence reviews and updates in coherence with the development of a National Security Strategy and the EU's White Paper on Defence.

The next formal fixed cycle Defence review will be initiated in 2025 and it is intended its publication will dovetail with the Level of Ambition (LOA) 2 timeline of 2028.