Skip to main content
Normal View

Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Questions (26)

Roderic O'Gorman

Roderic O'Gorman

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

26. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence the legislation that underpins the activities of the Irish Military Intelligence Service (IMIS); the name of the current Director of the IMIS; the number of members of the Defence Forces and civilian staff serving in the IMIS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15588/26]

View answer

Written answers

Helen McEntee

Minister for Defence

The Defence Forces currently have a number of statutory investigative powers which enable them to collect and process intelligence. These are the

• Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages (Regulation) Act 1993;

• Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009;

• Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011; and

• Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2018.

In addition, other important aspects of the role of Military Intelligence have a formal basis in Defence Forces Regulations, in sealed orders (made pursuant to section 13 of the Defence Act 1954) and in other sources that have been approved by the Minister for Defence.

In its 2022 report, the Commission on the Defence Forces made a number of specific military intelligence-related recommendations under the headings of capabilities and military intelligence.

One of those recommendations was that the role and functions of Military Intelligence be urgently clarified and underpinned by appropriate legislation within the context of a coherent national intelligence architecture.

Work on the preparation of that legislation is well underway and I anticipate that the draft legislation will be included in the General Scheme of a Bill (which will also deal with other issues) and I expect to bring to Government in the next few months.

The position of Director of the Irish Military Intelligence Service (IMIS) is held by an Officer of the Permanent Defence Force at the rank of Colonel. While the staffing of IMIS is a matter for the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, it would not be appropriate for me, for security and operational reasons, to comment further on such matters.

Share