Written Answers Nos. 324-330
324. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence if it is the current policy of her private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if she will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30594/26]
View answerThere is no formal, Department-wide policy in place requiring that all local Oireachtas members be notified or invited to every engagement undertaken by Ministers in the course of their official duties.
Ministerial engagements are organised having regard to the nature and purpose of the event, the role of the host organisation, and the associated logistical arrangements. In that context, decisions regarding invitations and notifications are made on a case-by-case basis.
In general, where appropriate, efforts are made to notify relevant public representatives of engagements taking place within their constituencies. This may arise, for example, in the context of significant official visits, announcements or events of a public nature.
It should be noted that, in many instances, invitations to events are issued by host organisations rather than by the Minister’s Office or the Department.
I remain committed to ensuring that engagements are conducted in an inclusive and appropriate manner, having regard to all relevant considerations.
325. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of her ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by her office to all local Oireachtas members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30612/26]
View answerAs Minister for Defence I undertake a wide range of official engagements across the State in the course of my duties. These engagements are scheduled and managed by the relevant officials within my department.
There is no centralised system within the Department to record whether notifications or invitations in respect of individual engagements issued to all local Oireachtas members in a given constituency. In many instances, invitations to events are issued by the host organisations rather than my department or office. Accordingly, it is not possible to compile a definitive list of events where such notifications may not have issued to all relevant representatives.
In general, where appropriate, my department seeks to notify public representatives of engagements within their constituencies, having regard to the nature of the event and the associated logistical arrangements.
Notwithstanding the above, the following is a list of official engagements attended under my role as Minister for Defence since 1 January 2026:
12th February 2026:
• Medal Award for serving members of CN COIS
25th February 2026:
• Launch of Maritime Security Strategy Sir John Rogersons's Quay
• Research Ireland Defence Innovation Prize event
5th April 2026:
• 110th Anniversary of Easter Rising O'Connell St Dublin
9th April 2026:
• Cadets Commissioning ceremony - Curragh Camp Kildare
23rd April 2026:
• The Valentia Island Symposium on Subsea Cable Security and Resilience
• Visiting Ardagh Mountain Lanehart Battery and Dept of Defence Slipway
326. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of her Department building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30693/26]
View answer327. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30711/26]
View answer328. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30731/26]
View answer329. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30748/26]
View answer330. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30769/26]
View answer333. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by her Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30839/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 326, 327, 328, 329, 330 and 333 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no solar panels in place in buildings currently occupied by my Department. The Department is a tenant of buildings operated by the Office of Public Works. As such, there is no Department solar panel policy in place at this time.
In relation to properties occupied by the Defence Forces, the information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the military authorities. It has not been possible to collate the data within the time frame available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information has been provided.
