Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2022
78. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence if there will be a strengthening of Ireland's maritime defences in view of recent events in the Baltic sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published in February 2022. It is a substantial report running to over 180 pages and 69 main recommendations many of which have sub recommendations. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
On the 12th July 2022, government approval was given for a range of actions flowing from the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces. There are a number of recommendations in relation to maritime security contained within the report and the High Level Action Plan (HLAP) for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces sets out the response of Government in relation to each recommendation: Accept, Accept in Principal, Further Evaluation or Revert. Some of the maritime recommendations which have been accepted or accepted in principle by the Government include;
- An accelerated programme of Naval vessel replacement to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships by early in the next decade;
- That all modern vessels be double crewed to ensure each vessel spends an absolute minimum of 220 days at sea per year, with this being phased in over the course of the vessel replacement programme;
- Providing immediate access to the Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme to direct entry personnel in the Navy;
- Ireland should deepen its engagement with the implementation of the EU’s Maritime Security Strategy.
One of the early actions identified in the High Level Action Plan is to progress the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review which will look at defence policy across all domains and inform future capability requirements.
