Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
342. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government intends to publish a revised national military aviation strategy or rotary-wing capability doctrine arising from the implementation of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39250/26]
View answerThe Commission on the Defence Forces undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference in its report published in 2022. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covered high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
The Commission made a recommendation that "A whole-of-government National Maritime Security Strategy and a National Aviation Security Strategy should be developed."
The Defence Policy Review 2024 highlighted Maritime Security as a priority area for Government given the growing threats faced in the maritime domain. On foot of this, my Department established a Maritime Security Unit to prepare the Maritime Security Strategy which I published on the 25th February this year.
The National Security and Defence Policy Branch have undertaken initial scoping work on a National Aviation Security Strategy with external consultant support which recommended that this work should be carried out following the publication of a National Security Strategy. It is also identified that the Department of Defence would not necessarily be the lead Department undertaking this work as the responsibility for aviation security runs across a number of Departments including the Department of Transport.
At present there is no published doctrine for military rotary-wing operations within the Air Corps. The current doctrine is based on the contents of the respective Air Regulation Manual and Air Operations Manual. However, doctrine is being developed by the Defence Forces as new capabilities are being acquired as identified under the Commission on the Defence Forces.
