Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
14. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence his views on the finding by the Commission on the Defence Forces that the current level of financial commitment provided to the Defence Forces delivers military capabilities which are inadequate for the defence of Ireland. [13225/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe White Paper on Defence in 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019 both include security environment assessments which were carried out by an interdepartmental working group. The assessments indicated a broad range of security challenges that were facing this state. The assessment was that a conventional military attack on this state although possible, was unlikely. The White Paper update (2019) stated that “the threats in the cyber domain, and from espionage, have been assessed as increasing since 2015 while the wider political global environment is now more complex and uncertain.”
The White Paper is clear that security challenges are such, that no single country can deal with these alone. The White Paper outlines the importance of the UN and EU in collective security and commits Ireland to fully supporting UN mandated peace support operations. As such the policy position has been that Ireland would maintain military capabilities which would enable the Defence Forces to fully contribute to UN mandated peace support operations, meet domestic security and civil support requirements, whilst also retaining capabilities for certain contingencies.
I fully acknowledge there is an ongoing requirement to consider whether the capabilities we maintain are appropriate, having regard to the security environment, the roles that we wish the Defence Forces to undertake, and likely risks. That is precisely why the Programme for Government contained a commitment to establish an independent Commission on the Defence Forces and why I moved quickly to establish the Commission. Current events are also prompting increased open debate and consideration of our defence requirements.
The Commission’s report, which was recently published, contains many detailed recommendations and there is a process underway to consider these recommendations. This necessarily requires consultation with Ministerial colleagues. As I have previously outlined, I am also keen to hear broader views on the findings and recommendations contained in the report and I will be engaging further on this, over the coming period.
The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be inappropriate for me at this time to pre-empt an ongoing deliberative process.
