Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
150. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the strategic defence review and provide a timeline on the publication of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18008/24]
View answerThe Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces published in November 2023 builds on the publication of the Commission Report itself in February 2022, the High Level Action Plan in July 2022 and the Early Actions Update published in March 2023. This plan sets out an ambitious programme of work to move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA 2) by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the Commission’s recommendations approved by Government.
One of the Early Actions identified in the High-Level Action Plan was the commencement of a Strategic Defence Review as part of the regular defence review process set out in the White Paper 2015.
The first stage of this review has been the preparation of a revised security environment assessment (SEA) conducted by an interdepartmental and interagency working group and addresses the significant security environment changes since the White Paper Update in 2019. This assessment has informed the overall policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing as part of the Strategic Defence Review.
The Department of Defence, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted a Consultative Forum on International Security in June 2023. The Forum built a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy. It also provided an opportunity to examine the experiences and policy choices of other partners in responding to the new security environment in Europe.
As well as encompassing the Governments agreed recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Independent Review Group, the Strategic Defence Review will consider the reflections of the Consultative Forum on International Security and the future role of the Defence Forces both nationally and internationally.
Work on the Strategic Defence Review is progressing and is expected to be finalised soon.
