Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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253. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence in advance of the delivery of the Airbus 295 military transport aircraft in September of this year, and further to Parliamentary Question No. 21 of 25 June 2025 concerning Ireland’s admission to the European Air Transport Command EATC, if his Department has considered the “Sponsor Nation” scheme associated with the EATC for accessing larger more capable transport aircraft in advance of full membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39725/25]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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254. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department has considered the technical arrangement to gain access into the “Air Transport & Air to Air refuelling Exchange of Services” ATARES scheme as part of the “Movement Coordination Centre Europe” MCCE which runs in tandem to the EATC; if the Government is committed to signing an agreement to gain access to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39726/25]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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255. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is willing to commit to providing personnel from the Air Corps to vacancies which may arise in the Operations Headquarters of the European Air Transport Command once Ireland joins the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39727/25]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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256. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will commit to offering EATC both the Airbus 295 and the new Dassualt Falcon 6x Strategic reach aircraft when both are delivered later this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39728/25]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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257. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the national caveats Ireland will implement on joining the European Air Transport Command; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39729/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254, 255, 256 and 257 together.

Strategic airlift capability has been prioritised as a capability for investment following Government approval of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) Report as part of the present move to Level Of Ambition (LOA) 2 capability as defined within the CoDF Report and subsequent Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) of the CoDF Report.

A strategic airlift aircraft is a medium-large military transport aircraft whose purpose is to move personnel, equipment and supplies over long distances. The forthcoming delivery of the Airbus C-295M military transport aircraft in September 2025 will provide this capability for the Defence Forces.

No decisions have been made in respect of the potential for Ireland to assume future membership of the EATC, or in respect of the extent of any such participation.