Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the consideration given to introducing guard ceremonies at the Defence Forces monument at Merrion Square in Dublin and in other locations in the State on a regular basis. [59619/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Yesterday I attended the 2025 annual DF Remembrance Ceremony. In addition to the remembrance ceremony at the National Memorial an annual Deceased Members Mass is also held in each Defence Forces Barrack location. The National Memorial, Merrion Square, was unveiled by President Mary McAleese in November 2008 and is the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State. The Defence Forces conducted a weekly Military Guard Ceremony at the memorial, on six consecutive Saturdays, during the summers of 2013 to 2018 (inclusive). Following the 2018 ceremonies a study group was convened by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) to review the weekly ceremonies. The study group recommended that one (1) annual remembrance ceremony take place in the month of November at The National Memorial, to commemorate deceased members of the Defence Forces. The first Defence Forces Remembrance Ceremony took place in November 2019, and has become an annual event in the Defence Forces military ceremonial calendar. This annual ceremony is attended by members of the Oireachtas, Defence Forces Senior Leadership, families of deceased members, Representative and Veterans Associations and members of the public.

Further, the National Day of Commemoration takes place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in July of every year. This ceremony is a State level event to commemorate all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations. The Defence Forces provide full Military Honours at this event including a Captains Tri-Service Guard of Honour, a Cadet Honour Guard and a wreath laying ceremony, during which the President of Ireland lays a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland.