Defence Forces

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Questions (174, 190, 192, 198)

Brian Stanley

Question:

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have the necessary equipment in place to detect military-type drones and bring them down if they pose a threat over Irish airspace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12197/26]

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Seán Crowe

Question:

190. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence to report on the Defence Forces capacity to provide an anti-drone umbrella; to confirm if that capacity is limited to Casement Aerodrome; the measures that will be put in place to expand that capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11579/26]

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Brian Stanley

Question:

192. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if there are a sufficient number of Defence Forces personal trained in the use of radar equipment to detect military type drones to monitor and bring down if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12198/26]

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Sinéad Gibney

Question:

198. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the steps her Department is taking to ensure we have the capacity to deploy anti-drone defences outside Baldonnel airfield; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12514/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 190, 192 and 198 together.

With Ireland assuming the Presidency of the EU from July this year, I have prioritised the delivery of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities for the Defence Forces.

Following Dáil approval on 3 December last of a Supplementary Estimate which provided for the accelerated procurement of C-UAS capabilities for use by the Defence Forces, contractual arrangements have been put in place to enable delivery of these capabilities during the first half of this year. In line with these arrangements, training of military personnel is already underway and the further roll-out of the required capabilities will continue to be accelerated this year.

With Ireland assuming the Presidency from July, for operational security reasons it would be inappropriate to make any further comment on this matter, at this time.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

Following my deferred answer to PQ 13514/26, I can now provide the below information in response to your request.

Please note that the below was gathered as an initial exercise to examine the previous 10 years of enacted legislation, however as the enacting of legislation, the making of regulations and the issuance of guidance under primary or secondary legislation is undertaken on the basis of policy need and where identified through appropriate legal advice as both an available and suitable action, there may be additional returns under table 3 in particular which have not been included below and which would require a dedicated legal review to identify.

Table 1 – Enacted legislation since 2016 where sections have not yet been commenced:

Name of Act	Section of Act
Road Traffic Act 2016	30 in relation to 78A(1)(g), 31, 34, 35, 36(a)-(c), 38.
Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023	5(a)(i) and (ii), 5(o) relating to 78A(9)(c), 6 - 10, 13(g) and (k)-(p), 14(b), 42(a)-(c), 46, 57.
Road Traffic Act 2024	3, 5(c), 8, 9, 10(a), (b) and (d), 11.

Table 2 – Enacted Legislation since 2016 where regulations may be made but have not been so made

Name of Act	Section of Act
Road Traffic Act 2016	6(2).
Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023	5(j)(ii), 5(o) insofar as it relates to 78A(11), 6 - 8 (not commenced), 11(b), 13(g) (not commenced), 34(b), 46 insofar as it relates to 77A (5), (8) and (14) (not commenced), 54 insofar as it relates to 9A(6).
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025	18(5)(a) (ii) (iii) 18(5)(b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) 21(6) 44 48(7) (b) (ii) 48(11) (a)

Table 3 – Primary and Secondary legislation which provide that the Minister may issue guidelines regulations but where such regulations have not been made.

Name of Act

Section of Act

Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023

5(j)(ii),

46 insofar as it relates to 77A (13) (not commenced).