Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which military capability in respect of air and sea surveillance is sufficiently modernised and updated to meet ever-increasing challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42798/23]
View answer171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are sufficiently equipped in terms of technology, military hardware and any other requirements needed to address the ongoing threats from drug smugglers or others who seek to breach the laws of the State from the sea, air or by land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42799/23]
View answer179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which Irish security forces have all the necessary communications and other technical equipment to liaise and cooperate with defence forces in other jurisdictions, with a view to continuously combatting crime and at the same time ensuring the security of the State against threats from any quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42807/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 179 together.
A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
Capability priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered as part of the capability development planning processes which include both a five-year Equipment Development Plan and a Built Infrastructure Programme.
The Equipment Development Plan recognises the need to maintain and upgrade military capabilities having regard to emerging priorities, operational requirements and changes in technology. This is an ongoing process and specific examples of equipment procured and modernised in the last 18 months include: 30 armoured utility vehicles; 280 non-armoured vehicles; upgrades to 80 Amoured Personnel Carriers; purchase from New Zealand of two Inshore Patrol Vessels; completion of the mid-life refit of LÉ Róisín and commencement of similar works on LÉ Niamh (to be completed shortly); and the arrival last June of the first new Airbus C-295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, with a second due shortly. As capability development is an ongoing iterative process, there are a number of further defensive equipment acquisition and upgrade projects that are currently ongoing, at different stages, and due to be completed this year and planned for completion over the coming years.
Specifically in relation to air and sea surveillance, the programme for the supply of the two new C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft will provide the Air Corps with larger more capable aircraft to replace the two CASA 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. This will enhance the Defence Forces' air and sea surveillance capability, as well as providing a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks. In addition, an order has also been placed recently for a C-295 Military Transport Aircraft, and this will be delivered in 2025.
Furthermore, in relation to surveillance, the development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Development of enhanced military radar capabilities, across all domains, is a key priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence.
The Commission's report included a wide range of further recommendations in relation to capabilities and funding. In response, the Government approved a move to a higher level of ambition, known as ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission. The Commission included a number of members who had senior military experience from both at home and overseas and the need for interoperability, in line with the White Paper on Defence, with partners and like-minded states was a key consideration in its recommendations on capability development in particular. Implementation of the Commission's recommendations will result in significant increased investment in capability development over the coming years and is a demonstration of 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 challenges. An important output from the opening phase of the Transformation Programme, as outlined in the Strategic Framework that I published last week, is the development of a detailed implementation plan which is now at an advanced stage and which I expect will be published in the coming weeks.
