Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
191. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the reasons for delays in key defence projects in the updated Implementation Plan for the Commission on Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12515/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on the revised detailed implementation plan for the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12171/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide an update on the Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12485/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 206 and 226 together.
I would like to thank the Deputies for giving me this opportunity to discuss the recently published second Detailed Implementation Plan of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. The vital work on the transformation of our Defence Forces is the core priority for me as Minister for Defence. I am fully committed to the continued, meaningful transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.
I want to take this opportunity to commend the Defence Forces and my Department for the excellent progress that has been made in completing 54 of the 130 recommendations from the Commission, and as the DIP illustrates, there is significant progress underway on the remainder. As we all know, the Commission recommended significant quite changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland, which resulted in the approval by Government of a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2) by 2028, as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
The Defence and security landscape has changed significantly since the publication of the Commission's Report. Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine occurred just weeks afterward, and global political instability has been the hallmark of the past four years, and our transformation agenda will continue to be shaped by this.
Transformation efforts of this magnitude take time, and can only be successful if they are built on solid foundations. I have confidence that the structures that have been put in place and progress to date will ensure the successful delivery of the transformation effort. Record levels of annual provision for Defence have been made by the Government in successive budgets, along with a capital provision of €1.7 billion under the National Development Plan 2025-2030.
As the Deputy mentioned, some timelines have been adjusted due to the complexity of some of the steps that are necessary for meaningful transformation to take place, and to reflect the available capital funding now available under the National Development Plan.
As detailed in the DIP, in 2026 significant progress will be made on key Defence Equipment projects, including the priority Military Radar Programme. The Military Radar Programme is a key priority for the Defences Forces and I am assured that good progress is being made. As the Deputy will appreciate, the full delivery of the Military Radar Programme will be complex; but has been prioritised with a target delivery date of 2028. Elements of the programme will be rolled out in phases, starting this year with the counter-drone technology.
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. 2025 provision was secured in the Supplementary Estimates in December last year and contractual arrangements have now been put in place for the delivery of these capabilities in Q2 of this year. The necessary training of military personnel is already underway and the further roll-out of the required capabilities will continue to be accelerated this year.
Question No. 192 answered with Question No. 174.
