Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
134. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Defence the person that indemnifies Defence Forces chaplains when they deploy overseas, if they are not considered members of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71649/25]
View answerI want to start by acknowledging the excellent work undertaken by our Chaplains. I am in no doubt about the importance of their work in providing pastoral care and maintaining the morale of members of the Permanent Defence Force, especially under difficult and testing conditions when serving abroad.
While Irish Defence Forces Military Chaplains are not armed and they do not perform any operational duties of any kind whether based in the state or overseas, when deployed on active service, including overseas, they are considered persons accompanying the Defence Forces in an official capacity and are subject to military law under the provisions of Section 119d of the Defence Act.
The State Claims Agency is responsible for the State Indemnity Scheme and accordingly I have sought clarification from that Agency on the matter of Military Chaplains and will duly advise the Deputy on the response when received.
I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department are currently considering policy matters around the future status and appointment of Chaplains, on foot of a 2023 WRC Ruling which determined that the current appointment process of Military Chaplains is discriminatory on religious grounds. Policy options on the future status of Chaplains will also consider the request from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers' (RACO) to represent Chaplains in the future.
The contributions and sacrifices made by Military Chaplains over the years is widely recognised and appreciated by myself and my colleagues in Government, as well as within the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence and I look forward, in due course, to examining policy proposals from officials on the status and appointment of Chaplains, in light of the 2023 ruling from the WRC.
