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Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Ceisteanna (205)

Paul McAuliffe

Ceist:

205. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence when will the commission on the Defence Forces be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30047/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces is an important commitment made in the recently agreed Programme for Government. The Commission will be tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review which will include the following matters:

- Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea.

- Structures for governance, joint command, and control structures.

- The brigade structure.

- Pay and allowances and composition of the Defence Forces.

- Recruitment, retention and career progression.

- The contribution of the Reserve Defence Forces, including its legislation and Defence Forces regulations governing it, and whether specialists from the RDF should be able to serve overseas.

While the Programme for Government states that the Commission is be established before the end of 2020, with a mandate to report within 12 months, I am anxious to ensure that it is established as early as possible before the end of this year and I am working with officials in my Department in an effort to achieve this.

My immediate priority is to commence a process of consultation on the terms of reference, as committed to in the Programme for Government, and my Department is currently looking at options in this regard.

The Programme for Government also sets out that the Commission will contain a wide variety of expertise such as management, human resources, academia, law, and public service, as well as members with external military expertise from countries similar in size to Ireland and also from states which, like Ireland, are non-aligned militarily. No decisions have been made yet on membership of the Commission and ultimately this, and the Commission's terms of reference, will both be matters for decision by Government.

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