Written Answers Nos. 32-46
32. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to his announcement that the Defence Forces would not be procuring military equipment or defence equipment or contracts with Israel, the mechanism by which he is excluding Israeli companies; and the amount expended since January 2023 with any such companies. [42018/24]
View answerThe ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 has made it clear that all States must abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territory that may entrench its unlawful presence there. In discussions in Brussels, the Government has called for the EU to take steps to prohibit that trade, and I have already taken action by instructing my Department that there must be no procurement of defensive equipment from Israel, based on the advisory opinion.
As I have previously outlined to the House, the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procurement procedures are EU law requirements that have to be complied with. This is to ensure fair competition, transparency and equal treatment between suppliers through the advertising of the tender competition on the e-Tenders or the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) tender platforms.
Directive 2009/81/EC sets out European rules for public procurement in the fields of defence and security, and applies in principle to all contracts for the procurement of military equipment, works and services as well as procurement of sensitive supplies, works and services for security purposes. This Directive allows for certain exclusions or restrictions to access to tender competitions by third country bidders, and my officials are examining the most appropriate mechanism in this regard to give effect to my instructions.
The value of goods or services purchased by the Defence Forces from Israeli companies in respect of existing contracts since January 2023 is €904,519 There have been no new contracts awarded to Israeli companies since before that date.
33. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to indicate the anticipated future role of the Defence Forces, Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps in future national and/or European defence measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42081/24]
View answerIn July of this year, Government approved the latest in a fixed cycle of defence reviews - the Defence Policy Review 2024 - Adjusting and affirming our Defence Policy in an era of change. The publication of the review comes at an important juncture not just for my Department and the Defence Forces but also in the context of the wider security landscape in which we are operating.
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.
Our overarching Strategic Level of Ambition for Defence is to defend Irish sovereignty, protect Irish Citizens and secure Irish interests in support of Irish society, the Irish economy, our collective well-being and our territorial integrity.
Central to the response to the defence and security challenges that Ireland is facing is our engagement with key bilateral and multilateral partners. Our Defence policy will continue to be shaped by our policy of military neutrality coupled with active and principled membership of the EU, the UN, and with NATO through our membership of Partnership for Peace. This includes continuing our long-standing support of the EU's Common, Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and active participation in the EU's civilian and military CSDP missions and operations, as well as continuing our participation in UN Peace Support Operations.
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.
The Government is committed to increased levels of defence investment to enable the transformation of our Defence Forces and its capabilities across the five operational domains.
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 Strategic Compass.
35. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the international agreements or co-operation projects that Ireland has signed up to since he assumed office; the Oireachtas scrutiny thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42019/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that since I became Minister for Defence in December 2022, the following EDA projects have received Government and Dáil approval:
• Joint Procurement of Ammunition
• Joint Procurement of Soldier Equipment
• Joint Procurement of CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear) Equipment.
• Military Computer Emergency Response Teams Project (MICNET)
• Defence Energy Managers Course (DEMC)
• Cyber Defence Exercises (CyDef-X).
Participation in EDA projects is underpinned by the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which stipulates that both Government and Dáil approval is required.
In addition, participation in two PESCO projects has been approved during this period:
• Network of Logistics Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations
• Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection.
In line with the Programme for Government Ireland’s participation in PESCO projects is maintained on an opt in basis and requires Government and Dáil approval. Approval for both PESCO projects was received in July this year.
In November 2023, Ireland also agreed its Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) with NATO, under Partnership for Peace. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has been a member of Partnership for Peace since 1999. Previously, the framework for cooperation between Partners and NATO was the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP), and the Planning and Review Process (PARP). In an effort to streamline the different Partnership tools and processes, under the One Partner One Programme initiative, the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) was developed, to essentially combine the IPCP and PARP.
Though Oireachtas Scrutiny was not required for this, I briefed the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the ITPP in May of this year.
36. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department is taking the lead on the future national Maritime Security Strategy. [42023/24]
View answerOn the 25 July 2024 I published, on foot of Government approval, the Defence Policy Review - 'Adjusting and affirming our Defence policy'. The policy Review highlighted a number of key priorities for the years ahead, including a focus on maritime security. My Department will lead on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy, in co-operation with national and international maritime stakeholders.
37. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans for the further development of the Civil Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/24]
View answerThe current strategy for the development of Civil Defence is laid out in the Towards 2030 10-year strategy which was published in 2020. This document re-confirms the central strategic objective for Civil Defence - to support the Principal Response Agencies in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. Civil Defence will focus on five core services; emergency response, search and rescue, medical response, community assistance and radiation monitoring.
My Department's focus is on working with local authorities to ensure Civil Defence units across the State can deliver these core services. The capacity of Civil Defence Units across the State is being enhanced through new recruitment, liaising with Local Authorities to ensure that they fulfil their obligation to provide appropriate accommodation for their Civil Defence Unit, using Dormant Account Funds to modernise the Civil Defence fleet (vehicles, boats and equipment), and introducing new capability through, for example, drones, incident response & all-terrain vehicles. In addition, almost all Units now have an Assistant Civil Defence Officer to provide the support needed to effectively and efficiently oversee the unit.
I was delighted to secure additional funding for the Civil Defence, in the recent Budget 2025 negotiations, to further these goals, to provide for enhanced risk management and safety processes, and to continue the roll-out of modern work wear uniforms for all of our volunteers, which commenced this year.
38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the tribunal of inquiry into certain matters relating to the complaints process in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41697/24]
View answerFollowing the approval by both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of the motions to establish the Tribunal of Inquiry, I signed the necessary Statutory Instrument to formally establish the Tribunal on 20 June 2024. Ms. Justice Ann Power was appointed as the Sole Member of the Tribunal and delivered the Tribunal's Opening Statement at its first public sitting on 24 June 2024.
As the Tribunal has now been established, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. Information in relation to the work of the Tribunal can be found on its website at www.toidf.ie.
41. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when a decision on a location for the Army Headquarters will be made; and if Athlone will be considered. [42006/24]
View answerAs 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. 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 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 published in November 2023 builds on the publication of the Commission Report itself in February 2022, the High Level Action Plan in July 2022 and the Early Actions Update published in March 2023. This plan 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 Commission's report was published, with over 30 recommendations completed and work ongoing across many others.
There are a number of Government approved, Commission recommendations contained in the report which may impact on the structure of the Defence Forces including that the structure of the Army be reviewed, and in that context, the disposition of Units across the Defence Forces may be considered.
The recommendation that the structure of the Army be reviewed was identified as an Early Action in the High Level Action Plan. However, no decisions on the future disposition or locations of Defence Forces formations, installations and personnel have been made at this time. In keeping with the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, military authorities have established an office of Army Force Design which will undertake the significant work required to give effect to this recommendation.
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.
42. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is planning draft legislation relating to the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/24]
View answerIn April 2024, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, Government Departments and key stakeholders, has progressed, and a draft General Scheme has been prepared.
It is Intended to revert to Government with this General Scheme, seeking approval to publish, in due course. Once approved by Government, the Scheme will be referred for consideration by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to determine if pre-legislative scrutiny is required.
As this legislation advances, there will be ample opportunity for members of the Oireachtas to scrutinise and debate its contents within the Dáil and Seanad.
It remains important to emphasise that any legislative proposals will remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Any modification to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the dispatch of Defence Forces’ personnel to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland's non-participation in any military alliance.
43. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will make an apology on behalf of the State to the families of the children killed and injured by an army shell in the Glen of Imaal in April 1979. [42106/24]
View answerI wish to thanks the Deputy for his question.
At the outset, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and all of those injured and affected by the tragic events of 14 April 1979 at the Glen of Imaal. As the Deputy is aware, an investigation was carried out by the Defence Forces immediately after the incident. Subsequently, a number of litigation cases were taken against my Department, which, I am advised, are confidential to the parties involved.
Given the passage of time since these tragic events, and bearing in mind recent coverage of the matter, I will have to be given time to consider this request in depth. I will commit to examining this issue and will revert back to the Deputy directly.
44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the ways in which Ireland has co-operated and collaborated with NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; the details of the intelligence sharing, training and upskilling; the details of Ireland’s new agreement with NATO, the Individual Tailored Partnership Programme 2024-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41707/24]
View answerIreland's relationship with NATO has always been conducted through Partnership for Peace (PfP), of which Ireland has been a member since 1999 following Government and Dáil approval. Participation in PfP is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN and in enhancing the Defence Forces’ interoperability with other professional military forces. The best current example of this is where Irish soldiers are currently deployed in a joint battalion with Polish soldiers (who are NATO members) in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission.
The framework for cooperation between Partners and NATO is known as the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP). Previously, the framework for cooperation between Partners and NATO was the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP), and the Planning and Review Process (PARP). In an effort to streamline the different Partnership tools and processes, under the One Partner One Programme initiative, the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) was developed, to essentially combine the IPCP and PARP. The ITPP framework presents an opportunity to enhance any Partner's cooperation in relevant areas of choice, including cyber, enhancing resilience, improved maritime situational awareness, climate change as well as in work to address the impact of conflict on women and girls through the women, peace, and security agenda. It is a framework for cooperation, it is Partner-led and completely voluntary in nature.
Ireland’s ITPP was agreed with NATO at the end of 2023. The ITPP is for a duration of four years, 2024-2028. The ITPP sets out areas for cooperation e.g. tackling cyber and hybrid threats; in enhancing resilience; in maritime security, and through the women, peace, and security agenda. It also sets out the military areas where the Defence Forces strive to attain maximum interoperability, enabling of capabilities, and the enhancement of the professionalism of the Defence Forces, and its ability to contribute to international peacekeeping operations. Partners such as Malta, Austria and Switzerland have also agreed their ITPP with NATO.
Access to NATO training and standards, through participation in PfP, has proved invaluable in the development of Defence Forces' capabilities for the increasingly complex and challenging crisis management operations we face today.
The Defence Forces has partaken of a number of training activities offered by NATO to partners since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. These took place at the NATO School in Oberammargau, Germany, along with the Partnership Training and Education Centres (PTECs) and Centre’s of Excellence (COE) run by NATO members and partners in a range of locations. These training activities cover a broad spectrum of military training, including medical, military police, special operations forces, naval service, logistics, and communications and information services. In response to the specific query looking for the details of the intelligence sharing, the Defence Forces do not comment on the aspects of any intelligence sharing relationships for operational reasons. The nature of intelligence activities is confidential therefore it would not be appropriate to discuss such matters further.
46. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he will implement the Defence Forces working time agreement and make improvements to the post-2013 pension arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42112/24]
View answerIn terms of the Working Time Directive , earlier this year, I approved a management position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, including protections for military activities, deemed outside the scope of the Directive, due to their nature.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working to develop the appropriate legislative mechanism to bring the Defence Forces within the scope of the Act as soon as possible, and are also engaging with the Office of the Attorney General on this matter. This is a priority for Government.
A decision has been made by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to amend primary legislation by way of Regulations under the European Communities Act 1972 and I would hope that a Statutory Instrument can be finalised by the end of the year to remove the blanket exclusion of the Defence Forces from the Working Time Directive.
As I have previously stated, this piece of work is hugely important for each member of our Defence Forces. The implementation of the Working Time Directive is correctly seen as an important retention measure, and will ensure that health and safety protections, as prescribed in the Directive, are afforded to serving personnel.
With regard to pension arrangements and specifically post-2013 pension arrangements, I wish to advise the Deputy that pension arrangements are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, not for individual departments.
