Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le baill an Roghchoiste um Chosaint agus Slándáil Náisiúnta. Táim anseo den chéad uair mar Aire Stáit sa Roinn Cosanta. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach as a bheith ceaptha mar Chathaoirleach agus leis na baill eile as a bheith ceaptha as an gcoiste freisin. I look forward to our engagement in the times ahead. I am here on behalf of the Tánaiste, who cannot be here today.
I welcome the opportunity to engage with the Select Committee on Defence and National Security to consider the 2025 Revised Estimates for the defence Vote group. I wish to provide members of the committee with both the overall position, and to provide an update on some recent developments, within the defence sector.
Ar leibhéal straitéiseach, ar fhoilsiú an chreata straitéisigh nua – Óglaigh na hÉireann a Bhunathrú chun Feabhais – beidh tugtha le chéile in aon doiciméad amháin na bearta atá le déanamh le hÓglaigh na hÉireann a bhunathrú ina n-eagraíocht atá oiriúnach dá bhfeidhm, is é sin eagraíocht atá in ann an Stát a chosaint agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar na dúshláin slándála atá ann san am i láthair agus a bheidh ann san am atá le teacht. Is suntasach an maoiniú a bheidh ag teastáil le bunathrú straitéiseach den chineál seo a bhaint amach agus infheistíocht leanúnach a dhéanamh inár gcumas cosanta.
The Government is actively progressing the Commission on the Defence Forces commitment to increase defence funding to €1.5 billion, at 2022 prices, by 2028 through the annual Estimates process. The total allocation of €1.35 billion, provided for the defence Vote group for 2025, is welcome.
The allocation comprises €1.021 billion for Vote 36 – Defence and €329 million for Vote 35 - Army Pensions, an overall increase of €100 million on 2024. The allocation includes a capital allocation of €215 million. This level of capital funding, which builds on progress evident over recent years, will enable a sustained programme of equipment replacement and infrastructural development to progress over the coming years. In 2025, it will facilitate significant investment on major capital projects across a number of areas, including military transport aircraft, software-defined radio and subsea awareness domain capabilities. It will also facilitate further progress on a range of Defence Forces built infrastructure projects encompassing Army, Air Corps and Naval Service installations throughout the country.
The overall 2025 defence Vote 36 pay allocation of €569 million provides for the pay and allowances of Permanent Defence Force personnel, civilian employees and departmental civil servants. It also provides for paid training for members of the Reserve Defence Force.
This pay allocation includes funding towards the cost of pay increases, arising from national pay agreements, in 2025. The Government acknowledges ongoing staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces. However, it is positive to see the recruitment and retention measures that were implemented beginning to have an impact. These recruitment and retention measures include, but are not limited to: an increase in the maximum age of recruitment to 39 years old for general service recruits and 50 years old for direct entry specialists; an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62 years; and the application of the working time directive across the Defence Forces. I understand that the application of the working time directive has been received very positively.
Members will also be aware that the Tánaiste got agreement for an extension of the Air Corps service commitment scheme to air traffic control personnel. I can confirm that the 2025 Permanent Defence Force pay allocation provides for a prevailing PDF strength of 7,600 and the recruitment of an additional net 400 PDF personnel in 2025.
Regarding Defence Forces pay, there has been notable progress made. New recruits now start on €41,465, upon completion of training, while school-leaver cadets start on €45,341 upon commissioning. The pay rate for a graduate entrant upon commissioning starts at €50,667.
The current expenditure non-pay allocation on the defence Vote has increased significantly by €30 million to €237 million. This expenditure goes towards essential and ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs, including utilities, fuel, catering, maintenance, information technology and training.
In an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical and security context, I think it is important to acknowledge the diverse, multifaceted role that the Defence Forces play both in enhancing our national resilience capabilities and in contributing to international peace and security. Defences Forces personnel represent Ireland proudly, often in volatile situations, across the world.
I pay tribute to them and thank them for their valuable work. The 2025 allocation will enable our Defence Forces personnel to continue proudly representing Ireland globally.
As of this year, Ireland is contributing 437 personnel, to eight different missions throughout the world, along with a range of international organisations and national representations. They do not need me to say this, but Ireland’s peacekeeping efforts are highly respected. I reiterate my sincere thanks to the members of our Defence Forces for their ongoing overseas efforts in the face of escalating worldwide tensions, dangers and threats, particularly in the Middle East.
The family and friends of the late Private Seán Rooney, tragically killed on duty while serving in Lebanon in December 2022, remain very much in my thoughts and I reiterate the deepest sympathies of the Government to them on their profound loss. On a recent visit to Lebanon, the Tánaiste outlined the deep frustration felt by the people of Ireland at the lack of any urgent or concrete progress, on the related legal proceedings. The Taoiseach takes this very seriously. We need to see accountability by the perpetrators responsible for Private Rooney’s tragic death.
At home, the funding provision will facilitate the continued provision of a military operational response to help both the civil power and civil authorities, as required. Examples of the broad range and type of duties undertaken include explosive ordnance disposal duties, air ambulance duties and naval boardings. An allocation of €10 million is provided to support Civil Defence and Reserve Defence Force requirements. On behalf of the Government, I thank the members of the Reserve Defence Force and Civil Defence for their ongoing commitment and invaluable contribution. Their work is essential in making Ireland more resilient. Resilience is a word that we constantly hear at the European table at the moment.
The 2025 Army Pensions, Vote 35, allocation is €329 million, which is demand-led and non-discretionary. It will provide funding for up to 13,600 Army pensioners and certain dependants. Army pension numbers continue to rise year on year. The increased allocation provided in 2025 will address both the cost of existing and new pensions as well as the benefit to pensions of increases awarded under the public service agreement. Due to the timelines involved concerning the formation of the Government and associated committees in 2025, the Department has, as facilitated under public financial procedures, spent a significant proportion of the overall Defence Vote group allocation already. The overall spend by the end of May was more than €495 million. This is slightly behind profile, but the current expectations are that 2025 expenditure will align closely with the Estimate provision as the year progresses.
Anois agus athrú agus athchóiriú suntasach ag titim amach sa réimse cosanta, táim sásta go gcuirfidh an maoiniú a leithdháileadh i gcáinaisnéis 2025 ar chumas Óglaigh na hÉireann a gcuid príomhfhreagrachtaí anseo sa bhaile agus ar fud an domhain a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach. Feabhsófar ár gcumas slándála náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta dá bharr agus éascófar dul chun cinn ar bhunathrú Óglaigh na hÉireann ó thaobh struchtúir agus cultúir de i gcomhréir le moltaí an Choimisiúin um Óglaigh na hÉireann.
I commend both the Defence and Army Pensions Estimates to the committee. I am happy to engage with the committee insofar as we can.
