Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
106. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment to establish a new national security committee to examine existing national security structures; and the progress made to date by the committee in relation to this review. [72010/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, set out a number of commitments relating to national security and defence, and work to give effect to these is well underway.
A key commitment in the Programme for Government was the introduction of a new Ministerial Council on National Security. I established the Ministerial Council on National Security last year, which comprises me as Chair, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for Defence, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Since then, the Council’s meetings have received detailed, up to date briefings on the current national security situation and events, including relevant international developments and current cyber threats. The Council also receives detailed reports from the National Security Committee covering the full range of national security-related issues. The National Security Committee is currently finalising a review of national security structures.
The Council continues to review the range of commitments relating to national security and defence set out in the Programme for Government and the delivery of these commitments.
In light of the worsened security situation in Europe and significant changes in the nature of the security challenges we face, it is clear that we must accelerate and increase investment in the State’s security and defence services in the coming period, and we will also need to enhance and develop our international partnerships.
