Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 622-641

Middle East

Questions (624)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

624. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he intends to take at European Union and United Nations level in response to the stated intention of the new Israeli Government to expand a regime of Jewish control over all of Palestine including those lands which are supposed to constitute a future Palestinian state, given the views that were recently expressed by the new Israeli prime minister (details supplied); if he agrees that such intensification of Israel’s colonisation of Palestinian land and its dominant-settler mindset means that new political initiatives are urgently required in pursuit of a peaceful settlement; if he agrees with the concerns expressed that ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population and the expansion of a regime that suppresses non-Jews will now most likely be promoted through further state terrorism and state-sponsored violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2022/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I would note that I do not agree with the terminology used by the Deputy in framing the issues that she has raised.

Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is crystal clear; the continued establishment and expansion of settlements is a violation of international law and is unacceptable. This position was reiterated at the UN Security Council on 19 December, which focused on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2334. On that occasion, Ireland also led a joint press statement by a number of states demanding that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in that regard.

It is deeply concerning that the stated intentions of the Israeli Government continue to show disregard for the clear international consensus around this issue. It is important that the international community supports the Palestinian Authority in its recourse to legal and political responses to the occupation. I welcome that the Foreign Affairs Council in January will afford an opportunity to raise this issue, as a matter of priority, with my EU counterparts.

Ireland remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-State solution, with the Jerusalem as the capital of both States, on the basis of international law and agreed international parameters.

Question No. 625 answered with Question No. 617.

Question No. 626 answered with Question No. 617.

Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 617.

Legislative Measures

Questions (628)

Patrick Costello

Question:

628. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories Bill 2018); if he will seek to pass it; if he will seek updated legal advice from the new Attorney General; the way that he intends to fulfil Ireland’s obligations under international law around the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2143/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward.

Ireland has supported legal avenues to differentiate between settlements and Israel, for example by joining a case before the European Courts in 2019 on labelling of certain goods produced in settlements. Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements and this Government will continue to do so.

Ireland plays a leadership role at both EU and UN level in taking a consistent, clear, and firm line in relation to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Government remains committed to a two-State solution and will continue to work with partners to revive a political process in line with international law, which ensures equal rights and is acceptable to both parties.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (629)

Michael Ring

Question:

629. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied) can be progressed by using some of the original documentation already on file for the applicant’s sibling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2344/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Due to periodic changes in the format of documents issued by civil registration authorities, and to protect the integrity of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) system, previous verifications of civil documents by the FBR service cannot be relied upon for subsequent FBR applications. Accordingly, FBR applications that are submitted separately each require a full set of supporting documents to be submitted for authentication and verification. 

If the Applicant would like further information on the requirements for their application, they can speak to a dedicated Foreign Birth Registration agent by contacting the Passport Service Customer Service Hub on [phone].

Question No. 630 answered with Question No. 597.

Legislative Measures

Questions (631)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

631. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if all sections of all Acts passed in the past ten years have been commenced; the number of sections that are outstanding; the number of Acts that have review periods; if the reviews have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63377/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

Apart from the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, all other Acts from the Department of Defence which were passed over the last 10 years have been fully commenced.

In relation to the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, the Deputy might note that this Act was signed by the President on the 6th of July 2022. The principal purpose of this Act, which contains 94 sections, is to provide for members of the Military Police to take and use DNA samples and other evidence for the purposes of their investigations, including outside the jurisdiction of the State when Defence Forces personnel are deployed overseas.

Section 66 of the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022 provides for a review of the operation of Parts 6 and 7 of the Act not later than 6 years after the commencement of that section. None of the other Acts passed in the past 10 years have review periods.

In relation to the commencement of the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act, there is a requirement for regulations to be completed and administrative procedures to be put in place before a commencement order can be made. This work is ongoing.

Defence Forces

Questions (632, 642)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

632. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the last time that the age limit for entry into each of the sectors of the Defence Forces was reviewed; if it was undertaken with comparison to international practice; and when the next age review regarding entry is due to take place. [63528/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

642. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has considered raising the recruitment age of the Naval Service from a maximum of 27 years of age to a higher age as part of the drive to increase recruitment given many other countries have a much older recruitment age limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63910/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 642 together.

The conditions for entry to the Permanent Defence Force, including the maximum age limits of applicants, are subject to ongoing review and modification having regard to the needs of the organisation, the development of best practices and, as required, reviews of national and international comparators.  Currently, such conditions are also being considered in the wider context of recommendations made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. 

The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The nature of military service requires that the age profile of personnel in the Defence Forces must be appropriately managed to ensure that capability requirements are met and, in that context, the entry age limits are currently under review. 

The last amendment to Regulations, providing for an increase in the upper recruitment age limit, was in respect of persons recruited as Direct Entry Technicians and was dated 30th March 2022.

Defence Forces

Questions (633, 634)

John Brady

Question:

633. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63564/22]

John Brady

Question:

634. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63565/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together.

The following table details the current strength and establishment of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 30 November 2022.

-	Current Strength (WTE)	Agreed Strength
Permanent Defence Force	8,049	9,500
Army	6,531	7,520
Air Corps	711	886
Naval Service	807	1,094

Ongoing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. My focus is on bringing the strength of the Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Question No. 634 answered with Question No. 633.

Air Corps

Questions (635)

John Brady

Question:

635. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in training of both aforementioned disciplines. [63566/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 12 January 2023, is 749 wholetime equivalent personnel.

 The table below shows the breakdown requested:

Personnel Stream	Strength as at 12/01/2023
Qualified pilots	96
Cadets currently completing military training*	14
Young officers in pilot training	8
Qualified Military Aircraft Technicians	175
Qualified Military   Avionics Technicians	29
Apprentice Military Aircraft Technicians	62

*Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings course once they graduate as Officers.

A Military Aircraft Technician (MAT) is an individual who has qualified from an Air Corps apprenticeship, or a direct entrant deemed to have the appropriate qualifications to work on aircraft in the various maintenance roles. Personnel in these roles cover the broad range of disciplines within the Air Corps e.g. avionics technicians, aircraft mechanics, crew leaders, and aircraft inspectors. 

All MATs are employed in the maintenance of aircraft. At any one time, they may be employed in any of the broad range of maintenance disciplines, be in training, or serving overseas. The total number of qualified MATs is therefore inclusive of those who may be assigned to avionics duties, or any of the other disciplines, at any one time.

As outlined, there is a strong training pipeline for MATs consisting of 62 apprentices. Of these apprentices, 19 are undergoing basic military training. The remaining 43 are undergoing their qualification process and will, on successful completion, be streamed into rotary, fixed-wing or avionics technician categories.

Naval Service

Questions (636)

John Brady

Question:

636. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols that were cancelled in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63567/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.

A range of factors including adverse weather conditions and unscheduled maintenance, as well as staffing issues can impact scheduled patrol days.

A total of 49 scheduled Naval Service patrol days were cancelled during 2022.

Notwithstanding some challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime surveillance operations.

Defence Forces

Questions (637, 638, 639)

John Brady

Question:

637. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces, by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63568/22]

John Brady

Question:

638. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63569/22]

John Brady

Question:

639. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who left in 2022, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63570/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 639, inclusive, together.

As at 30th November 2022, 28 of the 569 female Permanent Defence Force personnel were serving overseas.

The requested breakdown of the total female strength of 569, by rank, is as follows:

OFFICER	LT GEN	MAJ GEN	BRIG GEN	COL	LT COL	COMDT	CAPT	LT
	0	0	1	0	2	57	49	52
OTHER RANKS	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGT	CPL	PTE	CADET
	0	0	7	12	54	97	224	14

As of 30th November 2022, 59 females were discharged from the PDF, as follows:

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov
Discharges	2	6	14	3	4	4	5	2	9	7	3

Typically, discharges include personnel who leave for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and would also include any trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

In line with current policies and commitments, and the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, a number of initiatives are in place with a view to increasing the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. Additionally, special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework.

I am committed to maximising recruitment and retention of personnel, both male and female, to maintain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles, to undertake the tasks laid down by Government.

Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 637.

Question No. 639 answered with Question No. 637.

Defence Forces

Questions (640)

John Brady

Question:

640. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63571/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Micheál Martin)

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and the Government remains fully committed to this.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as of 30 November 2022, is set out below:

Service	Total Effective Personnel
Army Reserve	1,423
Naval Reserve	108
First Line Reserve	279

The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces contains many detailed recommendations, including on the future structure and role of the RDF.

A High Level Action Plan (HLAP) that sets out the Government’s response to the Report was approved last year with some specific initiatives including the immediate commencement of planning for the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force.

A high-level implementation plan to drive forward the recommendations from the Report, including those relating to the Reserve Defence Force, is currently in the final stages of preparation.

The Deputy may also be aware that a recruitment drive for the RDF was launched last year on 21 March 2022, which was advertised across a number of media channels. Recruit Liaison Officers across the RDF conducted local recruitment to attract applicants for this campaign.

I am advised that over 1000 applications were received during this window, which is very encouraging.

To date, 88 RDF recruits have been inducted into the Defence Forces and the processing of eligible applicants is continuing. The military authorities have advised me that once this body of work is completed, consideration will be given to the launch of a further recruitment campaign in mid 2023.

Defence Forces

Questions (641)

John Brady

Question:

641. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63572/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 30 November 2022, the effective female strength of the RDF is 199 members.

In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. For example:

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework, including a Female Recruitment Standing Committee reporting on initiatives, with dedicated female recruitment teams proposed. In addition, a female specific "Always on" (constant targeting of the female demographic) campaign commenced in October 2021.

- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools.

- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.

- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

Initiatives in place to recruit individuals to the Reserve include supports provided to maximise RDF recruitment, including use of social media, promotion through the DF Press Office, outreach activities by RDF members, and the use of PDF exit interviews which contain information on applying to the RDF. In addition, a number of measures to streamline the recruitment and induction process for the RDF are in train and it is hoped that they will yield a positive outcome.

The Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces included a number of recommendations relating to gender and diversity in the Defence Forces. A High Level Action Plan (HLAP) that sets out the Government’s response to this report was also approved. Some specific initiatives include the immediate commencement of planning for the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force. In addition, a further recommendation that the Defence Forces Women's network be extended to members of the Reserve has already been implemented.

I would reiterate that the Government remains fully committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Force activities.