Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

143. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether foreign-language learning is available and/or prioritised in the Defence Forces across all ranks and disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13858/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

144. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how the increase in the raising of the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years is expected to impact on retention of personnel in the coming five years; if he will publish any research undertaken on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

145. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether he will support the desire of the Oversight Group to exercise maximum independence and authority in all its business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/24]

Defence Forces

Paul Murphy

146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of a recruitment drive by the Air Corps and Defence Forces (details supplied); his views on whether Ireland as a neutral country that a method of recruiting children in schools is not appropriate; and if he will instruct Defence Forces to remove any recruitment propaganda from schools. [13989/24]

Defence Forces

Kathleen Funchion

147. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if serving members of the Defence Forces who have not received the Covid-19 vaccination are eligible for overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13994/24]

Air Corps

Ged Nash

148. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft delivered to the Air Corps in June and October of 2023, will reach full operational capacity and be available for Maritime Defence and Security Operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/24]

Air Corps

Catherine Murphy

149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 20 March 2024, if he will provide the contact details on file with the Air Corps for a club (details supplied) that hosted a civilian aircraft at Casement Aerodrome in September 2004 to include the officers of the club and the registered address of the club. [14290/24]

Legislative Process

Catherine Connolly

150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects to bring forward the legislation he has stated that he is preparing with regard to the Defence Act 1960 and changes to the Triple Lock arrangements; if he plans to bring this before the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the summer 2024 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

151. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report the participation of the Naval Service in Operation Irini; the component aspects of the mission and those which Ireland has taken part in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/24]

Commemorative Medals

Cathal Crowe

152. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department will award retired and former soldiers the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal if their service had concluded by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/24]

Air Corps

Paul Donnelly

153. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if officials from his Department and or military officials have met with senior officials from Airbus to discuss the progression of the new AirBusC295W aircraft coming into the Air Corps in 2025 in the past six months. [14786/24]

Defence Forces

Paul Donnelly

154. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of females that joined Defence Forces from each general service recruitment campaign or cadet service recruitment campaigns in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [14787/24]

Air Corps

Matt Carthy

155. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of a recent incident resulting in the emergency landing of an Air Corps aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14961/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

156. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his intentions to alter recruitment and retirement ages regarding the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14962/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

157. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his proposals to address delays regarding administration and medical testing which are unduly slowing down the recruitment of Reserve Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14963/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

158. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount that will be expended on a third party contract to maintain Naval Service vessels; his proposals to ensure that the Naval Service has an adequate complement of expertise that such a contract is not necessary in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14964/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

159. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current maintenance arrangements regarding the LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14965/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

160. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount paid to third parties in relation to maintenance of the naval fleet in the years 2010 to date, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14972/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

161. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who purchased their way out of service in the years 2019 to date; the average discharge by purchase fee, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14973/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

162. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of personnel in each arm of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14974/24]