141. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence the date by which she will publish the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026; the Oireachtas Committee before which it will be discussed at Committee Stage; and if her Department intends to request that pre-legislative scrutiny be waived. [43592/26]

Thank you Deputy for the question. This legislation is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence and for the Government.

The purpose of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 is to revise and consolidate the current legislation, including the provisions concerning the operation of the so-called 'Triple Lock' mechanism, relating to the despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State. The Bill will also give effect to the recommendations pertaining to suspension and associated provisions contained within the report prepared by Mr Peter Ward, Senior Counsel, concerning the management of members of the Defence Forces charged with, or convicted of, serious criminal offences.

In line with normal practice, the general scheme of the Bill was referred to the relevant Oireachtas Committee (the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security) for consideration under the PLS process. At the end of July 2025, the Joint Oireachtas Committee published its report on the PLS of the draft legislation and put forward 27 recommendations. These recommendations received careful consideration. I am pleased to advise the House that the Bill will address certain recommendations arising under the PLS process.

I received government approval to publish the Bill today and it will be published on the Department's website in the coming days.

It is expected that the Committee Stage of the Bill will be at a future meeting of the Committee on Defence and National Security.