Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of functioning aircraft currently in service with the Air Corps; when additional aircraft will arrive and begin service here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/23]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements at home and overseas.
Currently the Air Corps have twenty six (26) aircraft in service comprised of sixteen (16) fixed wing and ten (10) rotary wing aircraft. The fixed wing aircraft are as follows:
- Two (2) CASA CN-235 aircraft, which entered service in 1994. Their primary function is as Maritime Patrol Aircraft, while also functioning in the secondary roles of air ambulance, logistics support and transport.
- One (1) Learjet 45, which entered service in 2004. It's primary function is a Ministerial Air Transport (MATS) aircraft. The Learjet, also functions in the roles of air ambulance and transport as required.
- Four (4) Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which entered service in 2020. Their primary function is Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), they also function in air ambulance and transport roles as required.
- Eight (8) Pilatus PC-9M aircraft which entered service in 2004. Their primary function is pilot training.
- One (1) Britten Norman Defender 4000 which entered service in 1997. This aircraft is operated in conjunction with An Garda Síochána as a Garda Air Support Unit aircraft.
The ten (10) rotary wing aircraft are as follows:
- Six (6) Augusta Westland AW139 aircraft. The AW 139s entered service in 2006 and their primary functions are as army/naval support and air ambulance including the Emergency Aeromedical Service. These aircraft can also function in the roles of aerial fire-fighting, cargo-slinging and transport.
- Two (2) Eurocopter EC135P2 aircraft which entered service in 2005. Their primary functions are helicopter pilot training and army support, they may also function in the roles of air ambulance and transport as required.
- Two (2) Eurocopter EC135T2. These aircraft entered service in 2003 and are operated in conjunction with An Garda Síochána as a Garda Air Support Unit aircraft.
At any given point in time, some aircraft in the fleet will be subject to repair and maintenance. All Air Corps aircraft and equipment are maintained in accordance with the Air Corps' maintenance regulations, the Air Regulation Manual Part E (ARM E). The ARM E ensures that all maintenance is carried out in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and in adherence to industry best standards. Maintenance schedules are planned in so far as possible with a view to maximising fleet availability.
Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered as part of the capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) process. A five year Equipment Development Plan for continued re-equipment was developed on a civil military basis and was published in June 2020. The Equipment Planning process recognises the need to maintain and upgrade military capabilities having regard to emerging priorities, operational requirements and changes in technology. This is an ongoing iterative process.
In relation to new air-based capability a contract has been awarded at a cost of €68 million, including VAT, for the provision of a new Fixed Wing Military Transport Aircraft for the Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in 2025.
The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is well underway with delivery of the aircraft expected later this year. For complex equipment purchases such as aircraft there is an extensive period of training which will take several months.
In relation to the Government Jet, extensive Public Spending Code analysis took place in 2022, culminating in the decision to commence a procurement competition for the replacement of the Learjet. A joint civil military project team has been established and planning is underway for a procurement.
Alongside the four PC-12 aircraft acquired in 2020, some €344 million, including VAT, has been committed to the acquisition of all of these enhanced capabilities.
The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the National Development Plan of €566 million over the 2022 to 2025 timeframe. The Defence annual capital budget for 2023 is €176 million. The recent Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This includes an almost 25% increase in Capital funding and demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.
This is following Government approval for a move over a six-year period to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on Defence Forces, which will entail funding increases to reach a Defence budget of approximately €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates.
This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.
23. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the action being taken in relation to the finding of the Commission on the Defences Forces that in the current structure, the army brigades are not deployable and do not align to international standards in terms of their strength or capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14376/23]
View answerThe Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022.
The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
In July last year Government approved a High-Level Action Plan in response to the Commission report. As part of this, approval was given for a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission, which will entail funding increases to reach a defence budget of c. €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates process.
Implementation structures have been put in place encompassing an Implementation Oversight Group, a High-Level Steering Board and an Implementation Management Office (IMO) to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
The High Level Action Plan also sets out all the recommendations contained within the report and designates a response of Accept, Accept in Principle, Further Evaluation or Revert.
The recommendation, that the structure of the Army be reviewed, was identified as an Early Action in the High Level Action Plan. Military authorities are progressing the establishment of an office of Army Force design which will undertake the work required to give effect to this recommendation.
24. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will expand the Collins medal scheme to retired members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13888/23]
View answerThere is a specific process in place concerning the award of medals to members of the Defence Forces, as set out in Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 and the associated Administration Instructions, wherein the qualifying criteria and procedures required for the awarding of Defence Forces Medals, in addition to the various types of medal awards, are delineated. Such awards are made on the recommendation of a Military Board appointed by the Chief of Staff for the purpose of examining and reporting on every recommendation for an award.
In general, military medals are awarded in recognition of specific acts or service at home or overseas, which can vary in significance from routine duty, to distinguished service and gallantry.
I have been advised by the Military Authorities that the Michael Collins commemorative medal is a commercial product of the Dublin Mint Office and as such, is not associated with the Defence Forces.
26. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide details on his decision to withdraw Irish troops from the UNDOF mission to Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14315/23]
View answer28. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). [14170/23]
View answer39. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the UN-mandated peace missions from which Irish Defence Forces are being withdrawn; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13975/23]
View answer51. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the rationale for the Irish Defence Forces personnel being withdrawn from the peacekeeping mission in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13381/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 28, 39 and 51 together.
As of 1 March 2023, some 546 Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed overseas. The main overseas missions are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel.
The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces jointly review the overseas deployment of Defence Forces personnel on an ongoing basis. Following the conclusion of an assessment of Defence Forces’ current commitments and on the basis of the military advice available to me, I have decided to withdraw the 130-strong Infantry Group personnel from UNDOF with effect from April 2024.
When assessing the sustainability of our overseas commitments, all missions and operations are reviewed. There are always a number of considerations that inform a decision of this nature and importance and such decisions are not taken lightly.
One of those considerations relates to the Government’s approval of the Defence Forces' participation in the EU Battlegroup, given the assets and capabilities that will be necessary to support such participation.
The withdrawal of troops from UNDOF will allow the Defence Forces an opportunity to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions. It will also relieve ongoing challenges in respect of the filling of specialist roles in overseas deployments. It will reduce the requirement for mandatory selection of personnel in certain ranks or skill sets and it will facilitate personnel to participate in training and personal development activities to increase skill levels. The decision will also present some challenges, in terms of reduced opportunities for overseas deployments and allowances for personnel.
The United Nations Department of Peace Operations has been advised of our decision to withdraw .Infantry Group personnel from UNDOF. Subject to the United Nation's agreement, I hope that Ireland can continue to occupy a number of staff officer positions in UNDOF headquarters.
27. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline any concerns he has in relation to whether Ireland has the capacity to ensure that undersea data cables passing through Irish waters are secure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/23]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that, for sound reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the security infrastructure in place for undersea cables nor would it be in the public interest to do so.
The Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance. This is augmented by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft.
The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure and data cables. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure is taking place by a mixture of air and naval platforms.
The Naval Service has no unilateral powers of enforcement in relation to damage, criminal or otherwise, to undersea cables or other communication links in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
On the future development of subsea capabilities, the Commission on the Defence Forces report considers that the step up to level of ambition 2, should seek to deliver enhancement of subsurface capabilities to monitor subsea cables. The report states that to achieve this would mean the naval fleet should have enhanced air, surface and subsurface search capabilities, with the latter allowing the Naval Service to monitor activity in the vicinity of subsea cables. In order to achieve these desired capability effects associated with a move to LOA 2, specific recommendations made by the commission were accepted in principle by the Government when it published its high-level action plan in July 2022.
One of the early actions identified in the high level action plan is the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review. This review will look at defence policy across all domains and inform future capability requirements and enable a broader debate on the State’s overall defence policy. Department officials are currently working with their Military counterparts with a view to progressing this action. The first stage of this review will be a security environment analysis to be conducted by an interdepartmental working group which has been established for the purposes of the review.
29. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the policy that has been developed by his Department with respect to the privileging of Civil Defence paramedic and advanced paramedic members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14192/23]
View answerThe Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory agency with responsibility for standards in the field of pre-hospital emergency care, including setting rules on the privileging of paramedic and advanced paramedics.
PHECC, also maintains a statutory register of Emergency Medical Service practitioners; which includes Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics. There are three parts to the privileging of practitioners, as set down by PHECC:
- The practitioner must be licensed to practice (EMT, Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic).
- The practitioner must be operating under the auspice of a Licensed Provider.
- The Licensed Provider must privilege the practitioner to practice on their behalf.
Civil Defence is a PHECC Licensed Provider. A working group of staff from my Department and the Local Authority sector, including Civil Defence Officers and the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) manage this application on an annual basis.
My Department's Privileging Policy and Procedures follows the PHECC governance standard to allow practitioners be privileged to practice for Local Authority Civil Defence units.
The Civil Defence Branch of my Department currently privilege EMT practitioners to practice on behalf of the Local Authorities.
The 2023 privileging process does not include paramedics or advanced paramedics as the PHECC operational requirements have not been fully agreed by Civil Defence Officers.
I understand there are ongoing discussions within the Local Authority sector, regarding the management of Controlled Drugs within the Civil Defence Local Authority units. Access to Controlled Drugs is a core requirement for Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics to practice.
Standards and governance in respect of Controlled Drugs are outlined under Misuse of Drugs Legislation and managed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
When these discussions are concluded, my Department will work with the Local Authorities and Civil Defence Officers to complete the PHECC and HPRA process, in order to privilege paramedics and advanced paramedics to practice.
30. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 2 February 2023, when the independent assessment (details supplied) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13642/23]
View answerIn 2020, an individual commenced considerable correspondence detailing allegations of sexual misconduct within the Permanent Defence Force. The incidences spanned a broad period between the 1970s and 1990s. The allegations included one of the existence of a paedophile ring in the Curragh Camp.
The individual sought an acknowledgement that abuse happened, a statement of apology and compensation for those who suffered abuse. The Department of Defence advised him that the allegations, some of which were first hand accounts and others not, were matters appropriate to an Garda Síochána.
The Department of Defence brought the matter to the attention of an Garda Síochána who subsequently contacted the individual who provided the information. I understand also that the individual was in touch with Tusla.
The then Minister was keen to ensure that the actions taken by the Department of Defence were appropriate in the circumstances having regard to the regulatory frameworks, policies and internal grievance systems in place. For that reason, Minister Coveney, in May 2022, on foot of a nomination from the Office of the Attorney General, appointed a Senior Counsel to assess the actions taken and to advise what if anything, could be done by the Department of Defence in circumstances of continued receipt of correspondence.
The substantive report was received by the Department of Defence on Thursday 26 January 2023. The Terms of Reference for Counsel provided that the report could be sent to the Independent Review Group for their awareness and this has been done.
The report is now available on the Department's web site. Since the Deputy's question on 7 February 2023, the Secretary General met with the individual concerned on the 9 March 2023 and gave him a copy of the report. He was accompanied and supported at that meeting by a colleague. The individual was given time to provide any comments and he has been in contact with the Department since then.
31. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the implications of the ongoing war in Ukraine for Ireland's security and defence. [14231/23]
View answerThis past year has transformed the European security and defence landscape. The EU has had to respond to war on the continent of Europe with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. This is reflected in a significant increase in investment in defence expenditure across Europe as well as the decision by Finland and Sweden to join NATO, which reduces further the number of non-NATO members in the European Union.
Shortly after the invasion, EU Leaders adopted the Strategic Compass, which is aimed at ensuring that the EU becomes a stronger and more capable actor in security and defence, both to protect the security of its citizens and to act in crisis situations that affect the EU’s values and interests. This week marks the first anniversary of the Strategic Compass, when Member States agreed on a common strategic vision for the EU’s role in security and defence and committed to a set of concrete and wide-ranging objectives to achieve these goals in the coming 5-10 years.
In the first year after the adoption of the Strategic Compass, significant progress has been made in its four work strands - act, secure, partner and invest and EU Foreign and Defence Ministers met this week to discuss the significant progress made to date in its implementation.
On the 12th July 2022, and against the backdrop of developments in Ukraine, Government approval was given for a move to 'Level of Ambition 2' (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces (which had been published on 9 February 2022). This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. The move to LOA2 will require an additional 2,000 personnel (civil and military) over and above the current establishment of 9,500.
Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Ireland has been and remains resolute in solidarity with and support for Ukraine, continuing to provide strong political and practical support for Ukraine.
In terms of external engagement, Ireland has been very supportive of the military assistance provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the European Peace Facility. It is clear that the EU will need to stay the course in terms of the provision of such assistance well into the future. With the approval of the seventh tranche of financial support to Ukraine, Ireland’s total contribution to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility stands at approximately €77 million. In line with the commitments in our Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution is directed exclusively toward non-lethal support.
Given Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine, we regard the establishment of an EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine is an important signal of that unity and unwavering EU support and solidarity with Ukraine. From the outset, Ireland was a strong supporter of the establishment of the mission and following the recent Government approval to participate, we look forward to contributing to the mission and responding to the identified needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The White Paper on Defence published in 2015 set out the Government's intention to put in place a new fixed cycle of defence reviews. Such reviews are common practice internationally and give reassurance that policy remains up to date and relevant to changing future circumstances.
My Department will soon commence work on a Strategic Defence Review, which will provide an opportunity to review all aspects of defence policy. The essential ingredients of the defence reviews process are to ensure an updated security assessment and a fresh consideration of the implications of this assessment for overall policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing.
As well as encompassing the Government agreed recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces, the future role of the Defence Forces both nationally and internationally will also be considered within the Strategic Defence Review.
The first stage of this review will be security environment analysis to be conducted by an interdepartmental working group which is due to commence shortly.
32. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding ongoing developments to improve the quality and quantity of accommodation for service personnel in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13209/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to outline the significant investments we are making in improving the Defence Forces built infrastructure, including improving accommodation facilities for our personnel. This year we are providing some €55m in improving our built infrastructure; a record allocation which will increase in the years ahead to match the roll out of new projects.
There are currently over €100m worth of projects underway at different stages of development. Since the Plan was launched, €22m worth of accommodation projects have been completed, providing 365 additional bed spaces at several barracks around the country.
Building on the progress of the last three years, 2023 is on track to be a largely positive year with historic levels of investment; with specific accommodation projects in
- Renmore Barracks - at a cost of €10m and now well underway;
- A New Accommodation Block in Collins Barracks also now under construction and to be followed by the major refurbishment of existing accommodation in the Barracks; and
- The refurbishment of Block 4 in the Naval base to commence on site later this year.
There are more accommodation projects planned for 2024 and beyond. Taken together these projects will provide an additional 960 bed spaces.
As the Deputy, may know I recently instructed that some housing stock in the Curragh Camp marked down for demolition was to be renovated and modernised for accommodation purposes. In addition, I have instructed that an assessment be carried out of all other housing stock under my Department 's control to ascertain their suitability to return to modern accommodation usage.
I should also mention that I have recently visited several Barracks' and have witnessed at first hand, the improvements being made and the positive impact these improvements make to our personnel. The Deputy can be assured that I have impressed upon my officials and senior military management the imperative of maintaining and building on the momentum we have witnessed in recent years.
37. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total military provided accommodation available at present for Defence Forces personnel; the plans he has to extend this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/23]
View answerThank you Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the significant investments we are making in improving the Defence Forces built infrastructure.
The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015.
A key feature of the IDP is the modernisation and upgrading of accommodation facilities for serving members of the Defence Forces. The capital allocation for this year alone is €45 million with a further €10 million allocated to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its current building stock.
At present, there are 4,509 military accommodation bed spaces for Defence Forces personnel across the country. Over the coming years in excess of 500 additional beds spaces are scheduled for provision throughout the country.
As the Deputy may know I recently instructed that some housing stock in the Curragh Camp marked down for demolition was to be renovated and modernised for accommodation purposes. In addition, I have instructed that an assessment be carried out of all other housing stock under my Department’s control to ascertain their suitability to return to modern accommodation usage.
38. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding the Commission on Defence report; the steps are being taken to implement its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13210/23]
View answer41. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which work is in hand to implement the recommendations of the Report on the Defence Forces with particular reference to key matters which need urgent attention; if discussions continue to take place with the relevant organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14100/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together.
The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. The Commission has undertaken a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
Given the significant recommendations contained in the Report, detailed consideration of these recommendations was undertaken over a period of 5 months by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Following this engagement, a High Level Action Plan (HLAP) and a Memo for Government were brought to Government and approved on July 12th 2022.
This involved the approval of a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. The Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.
The High Level Action Plan set out a total of 38 early actions to be completed within 6 months of the Government decision. Substantial progress has been made on the early actions, with most currently at an advanced stage and due to be completed shortly. I will be reporting in detail on these actions later today with full details of the progress for all of the early actions, in a comprehensive published document.
The move to LOA2 will require an additional 2,000 personnel, including both civil and military, over and above the current establishment of 9,500. Work has commenced on this with the ‘BE MORE’ recruitment campaign.
Retention measures being implemented include service commitment schemes in the Air Corps and in the Naval Service and the sea going naval personnel tax credit.
Pay has improved as a result of increases arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report, from recent pay agreements, and the early implementation of some of the recommendations of Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF). The implementation of two of these recommendations, namely personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank being paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank; and the removal of the requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank, have had a substantial impact on starting pay rates in the Defence Forces, and compare very well to starting pay rates across the public service.
The High Level Action Plan set out initial implementation and oversight structures. An independently chaired Implementation Oversight Group has been established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations approved by Government, and met for the first time on the 3rd of October. Ms. Julie Sinnamon has been appointed as the independent chair of the Implementation Oversight Group. There have been four meetings of the Group to date, most recently on the 27th of February. A High-Level Steering Board has been established, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, to oversee the implementation. The High Level Steering Board met for the first time on the 1st of March. A civil/military Implementation Management Office (IMO) has been established to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
Government noted that, in light of the Commission’s report, there is an urgent need for HR and cultural transformation in the Defence Forces and this will be prioritised. The High Level Action Plan identified the recruitment, through an open process, for the new senior-level civilian positions of Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR for the Defence Forces as early actions required to progress this transformation. Recruitment is currently underway for these two key appointments, which were advertised in Q4 2022.
It is important to acknowledge that a key factor in ensuring that the required progress is achieved will be effective and timely stakeholder engagement. The Defence Forces Representative Associations have been part of that stakeholder engagement and will continue to be fully consulted on all matters that fall within the scope of Representation. Engagement with relevant Government Departments also remains ongoing.
A key early action, and key output from the opening phase of the Transformation Programme, the development of a detailed implementation plan, is at an advanced stage and is expected to be published in Q2 of 2023. This plan will clearly set out the work needed to fully realise the transformation of the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland. It is a priority for me that this plan is both ambitious and credible if we are to realise the necessary transformation of the Defence Forces. It is important that the development of this plan is completed expediently but more important that we get it right.
40. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on protecting Ireland's undersea cables in conjunction with NATO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12645/23]
View answerMy officials and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure and data cables. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure and data cables is ongoing. The enhanced patrolling is being conducted by a mixture of air and naval platforms. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on any specific operational measures. The Naval Service has no unilateral powers of enforcement in relation to damage, criminal or otherwise, to undersea cables or other communication links in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Ireland’s relations with NATO are set within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and Partnership for Peace (PfP), including its Planning and Review Process (PARP). Ireland joined EAPC and Partnership for Peace (PfP) on 1 December 1999.
The renewed partnership programme for the 2023 - 2027 period is currently being progressed. This presents an opportunity to enhance our cooperation in relevant areas, potentially including cyber and hybrid, enhancing resilience, and improved maritime situational awareness. Discussions are at an early stage. I must be clear when I say that cooperating with NATO on areas of mutual interest does not indicate a move closer to NATO, this is about practical cooperation, which is of benefit to Ireland. As with all updated partnership frameworks, Ireland’s 2023 ITPP will be brought to Government for approval in due course.
