151. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the main policy achievements of her Department since 22 January 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50798/26]

I am pleased to provide the Deputy with an overview of my Department’s main policy achievements since 22 January 2025. The Programme for Government published in 2025 contains an ambitious range of commitments concerning the Defence sector that my Department will continue to implement over the lifetime of the Programme.

Defence Forces Strength

• The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31 May 2026, stood at 7,823 personnel, 80% of an agreed establishment strength of 9,739.

• 2025 saw an increase of almost 200 personnel in the overall strength of the PDF.

• There were 790 inductions to the PDF in 2025.

• The number of personnel discharged from the Defence Forces fell by 91 in 2025 compared to the previous year.

• Interest in a career in the Defence Forces was notably high in 2025 with a total of 16,510 applications received - an increase of more than 20% on the total for 2024.

• Interest continues to be very strong with over 10,000 applications as of 31 May 2026.

Reserve Defence Force:

The Supplemental Military Service (SMS) for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was introduced on 1 June 2026, to regularise RDF activities in support of the Permanent Defence Force.

Commission on Defence Forces

Progress on the Commission on the Defence Forces report includes:

• The increased use of Direct Entry Recruitment into Specialist Posts in the Permanent Defence Forces.

• Removal of the blanket exclusion from the Working Time Directive.

• Revised ATCP priorities, structures and resources have been implemented.

• The establishment of the Office of Veteran Affairs.

• The extension and enhancement of existing family friendly policies to the greatest practicable extent, including for overseas postings.

• Recognition of the challenges faced by single parents and parents of children with disabilities, amongst others.

• Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Defence Forces Army Ranger Wing (ARW) respective roles have been clarified.

• ATCP/ATCA review cycle implemented.

• Inter-agency Policies, Planning and Training developed.

An Updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published in February. As of 30 June 2026, 57 of 113 Accept/Accept in Principle recommendations were completed, including two Further Evaluations (FE).

Strategic Framework

A new Strategic Framework, setting out the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a fit-for-purpose organisation, was published in February.

Independent Review Group (IRG) Report

• A new Interim Grievance Manager Process was launched on a pilot basis in April 2025.

• A detailed review of the Redress of Wrong procedures was approved.

Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry

• The Department is continuing to correspond with the Tribunal on requests received to assist the Tribunal in its investigations.

• During 2025, one Statutory Instrument (S.I. 338 of 2025), was made under section 60(6) of the Data Protection Act 2018, to support the work of the Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry.

• The National Suicide Research Foundation were engaged to undertake a study of deaths by suicide by current and former members of the Defence Forces. The Study commenced in April 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026.

Capability Development

• A contract was awarded in the first half of 2025 for subsea domain awareness capability.

• The first in a series of masterplans to develop Defence Forces infrastructure was completed in February 2025 for the Airside in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

• The Preliminary Business Case for the delivery of the Military Radar Programme was approved in Q4 2025.

• Contractual arrangements were put in place during the first half of 2026 which resulted in the delivery of counter-UAS capabilities.

Aircraft Capabilities

• In September 2025, a new Airbus C-295 Fixed Wing Military Transport Aircraft for the Defence Forces was delivered to the Air Corps and is now in operational use.

• A new multi-purpose strategic reach aircraft, Dassault Aviation Falcon 6X, was delivered to the Air Corps in December 2025 and is now in operational use.

• The Department of Defence recently signed contracts for delivery of four new Airbus H145M helicopters. These helicopters which will be delivered on a phased basis in 2027 and 2028 will assist with pilot training, deployment of Special Forces, ISTAR, medical evacuation, and light attack roles, to complement the existing fleet.

Land Capabilities

• With the focus on essential force protection by armoured vehicles, a significant investment has been made in recent years in the Army's fleet of 80 MOWAG armoured personnel carriers. Over ninety percent of the fleet have now been upgraded.

• Progression of the Armoured Fleet Programme is continuing, with the Department now commencing detailed negotiations with France on a potential agreement for the delivery of all capability requirements under the Programme.

Naval Service Capabilities

A number of equipment projects were progressed for the Naval Service during 2025, including:

• Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme with the ongoing replacement of the four Naval Service Reserve launches

• Upgrading of secondary armament across the fleet

• Conclusion of the Mid-Life Extension Programme for the P50 class of vessel and work on the second Inshore Patrol Vessel.

• Planning has commenced for the midlife refit and upgrade programme for the P60 class vessels.

Integrated Modular Body Armour System

Investment in force protection equipment was progressed under the Department's Equipment Development Plan. A tender competition to procure new general service body armour, known as Integrated Modular Body Armour System (IMBAS), was completed in 2025 and deliveries commenced in Q2 2026.

Joint Procurement

SAFE (Security Action for Europe)

On 27 June 2025, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Mr. Simon Harris T.D. agreed that the Department should leverage a new European Union instrument, the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) Regulation, to accelerate the delivery of Ireland's defence capability. The Department of Defence opened up the contract for the supply of Integrated Modular Body Armour Systems (IMBAS) to other EU Member States under SAFE.

EDA

Ireland sees joint procurement with other EU Member States as an effective strategy to acquire equipment, leveraging economies of scale and the knowledge and experience of many Member States. In line with this strategy, Ireland is a participant in a number of European Defence Agency (EDA) joint procurement projects, including for various types of ammunition and Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection suits. Framework contracts for ammunition and suits were placed by EDA in 2025, allowing Ireland to place orders for phased deliveries over the next six years.

Working Time Directive

• Following the removal of the exemption for Members of the Defence Forces from the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (OWTA) in January 2025, the provisions in the OWTA now apply to Defence Forces members apart from when they are engaged on exempted activities.

• Military Authorities have developed a composite framework document to underpin the implementation of the Directive at all levels of the Organisation. Work is progressing on the final strand in the implementation of the Working Time Directive towards the completion of the terms and conditions of service for members of the Defence Forces.

Pay - Service Commitment Scheme and Professional Instructors Payment Allowance

• The Pilot Service Commitment Scheme (SCS) has been extended to include members of the Air Corps engaged in the provision of Air Traffic Control services. This development will assist with retention of key personnel and stabilisation of the Air Traffic Service provided at Casement Aerodrome which requires a broad range of specialised personnel.

• The Professional Instructors Payment (PIP) has been introduced to recognise the unique and critical role of instructors in delivering consistent, effective training. This new payment reflects the enhanced professional level of officer instructor training now being undertaken.

Legislation

The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 has been published and will now be progressed.

• Amendments to the Defence Act 1954, as set out in Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026, are being progressed as Part 5 of the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which is currently at report stage in the Seanad.

• Four of the Ward Report Recommendations were implemented.

• Three Defence Forces Regulations were updated to give effect to the role of the Court Liaison Officer (now to be known as the Court Reporting Officer) and where an appeal, other than an appeal against conviction, is pending discharge or discipline of the convicted member need not await the outcome of the appeal.

Civil Defence

• As part of the Department's review of activities under the "Towards 2030" policy document for Civil Defence, the policy and standard operating guidelines for Boat Operations, Welfare (including Catering and Rest Centres) and Pump operations (Flood response) were updated in 2025.

• The Department has also recently completed a review of training delivery and the volunteer recruitment and retention strategy and is now updating an Academic Governance Framework Document.

International

• Through the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) to date, the Defence Forces have delivered training modules in tactical combat casualty care/combat lifesaver, demining/mine clearance, drill instruction training, basic training, and junior leadership training to approximately 1200 Ukrainian personnel across separate modules. Since its launch in 2022, EUMAM Ukraine has trained over 85,000 Ukrainian soldiers and conducts training only on EU soil.

• Ireland participated with a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force in the 2025 German-led EU Battlegroup (EUBG), with the two year commitment ending on 31 December 2025.

• In early 2025, the EU conducted a Military Live Exercise in Hungary in which the Defence Forces participated as part of the German-led EU Battlegroup. This was the third EU military live exercise, following on from previous exercises in Spain and Germany and the second in support of preparations for EUBG 25.

• In March 2026, Government approval was secured for the establishment of a Defence Attaché network on a pilot basis, with Ireland’s bilateral Embassies in Paris, London and Washington DC chosen as the programme’s locations in light of their strategic importance. The establishment of a Defence Attaché Network will enhance Ireland’s strategic partnerships, improve military cooperation with key partners and ensure Ireland’s defence expertise and perspectives are represented within important strategic forums.

• In March 2026, an update of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ireland and the UK on the enhancement of bilateral engagement on certain aspects of Defence and Security was signed. This refreshed MoU updates the version signed in 2015 and provides for a particular focus in such areas as Maritime, Cyber Defence and Security, Air (Information Sharing) and Joint Procurement initiatives among other topics.

Emergency Planning

• The Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning have worked with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) to deliver a cross-government seminar on the laws of sea, protection of undersea infrastructure and hybrid threats. Ireland’s first ever national-level hybrid threats exercise was conducted in January 2025.

• In November 2025 a new national-alerting platform for convening the National Emergency Coordination Group was implemented.

• Senior officials in the Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with senior officials in the UK Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms Directorate which took effect on 6 November 2025. The MoU establishes bilateral cooperation between Ireland and the UK in respect of risk management and emergency preparedness.

• In April, the Department delivered the 4th All-Island Disaster Risk Reduction Conference in Dundalk. The theme of this year's conference was "Strategic cross-border linkages in emergency management".

Resilience

• A National Strategy on the Resilience of Critical Entities was published in March 2026.

• The Department has begun the process to review the National Risk Assessment for Ireland for 2026.

• Together with the Northern Ireland Executive Office, the Department has contributed to the successful application of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Monaghan County Council for €2.3 million in funding under the PEACE programme to conduct research and develop a set of actions around improvising information sharing, risk management and developed of cross border resilience.

Maritime Security

Ireland's first-ever National Maritime Security Strategy was launched in February 2026. The vision for this strategy is that it will support the protection of a secure and sovereign Ireland, where our people and interests are protected, and where our European and international partners can rely on us to uphold the rule of law in the maritime domain.

• In support of the strategy’s development, officials led a public consultation in summer 2025 to gather views on this work and to build consensus on the diverse threats, risks, challenges and opportunities being faced by the country.

• Another initiative taken to support this focus on maritime security is the approval for the Defence Forces in April 2025 to participate in the EU's Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). This EU initiative enables structured and secure information-sharing among EU maritime authorities, both civil and military, allowing for more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime threats.

Office of Veterans Affairs

The Office of Veterans Affairs was formally established on 10 November 2025. The Office, which was a recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces and a commitment in the current Programme for Government, plays a key role in coordinating matters relating to Defence Forces' veterans.

I am satisfied that significant progress is being made in implementing the Government's ambitious programme for Defence and I look forward to the ongoing delivery of key commitments.