Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the security needs of the central Border region will be considered in the context of the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the Army be reviewed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41900/24]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendation in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the Army be reviewed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/24]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended significant changes to the Defence Forces. Given the changed security situation in Europe with Ukraine having been invaded by Russia and Britain's exit from the EU, we need to review the number of facilities for Army personnel and their location. Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, is located in the north east and Finner Camp is in south-west Donegal but the central Border region has no Army installation and this needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 25 together.

Deputy Smith has been very persistent with regard to the structure of our Defence Forces as it applies to the central Border region. He mentioned Cavan Barracks, Aiken Barracks and so forth. I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and its report was published in February 2022. A significant body of work has been undertaken encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. The commission recommended 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.

We published a detailed implementation plan in November 2023, which built on the publication of the commission report itself in February 2022, together with the high-level action plan of July 2022 and the early actions update published in March 2023. There is an ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the commission's recommendations approved by Government.

There are a number of Government-approved commission recommendations contained in the report that may affect the structure of the Defence Forces, including the recommendation that the structure of the Army be reviewed and in that context, the disposition of units across the Defence Forces may be considered. No decisions have yet been made on the future disposition or locations of Defence Forces formations, installations and personnel, even though it has been identified as an early action in the high-level action plan. I will be in discussions with my Department with a view to asking for a review of the central Border area. In the past number of years, it was felt that operational efficiencies were achieved in respect of the closure of barracks but the Deputy is raising important points that do merit consideration in terms of future Army force design.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I very much welcome the fact that the needs of the central Border region in the context of defence and security issues will be taken into consideration in the review of the structures and location of Army installations. Dún Uí Néill was the most modern military barracks in Europe and opened in 1990. Very regrettably, it was closed in 2012. It is situated in the central Border region and as we know, that region does not have an Army barracks. I have spoken to people with a lot of military knowledge and experience and I very much value their opinion on security matters. These people served at different rank levels in our Permanent Defence Force are strongly of the view that this is the opportune time to at least reopen Dún Uí Néill as a forward operating base. I am speaking of people who played a key role in defending our State against paramilitarism and violence over the years and the protection of our State during a very difficult and troubled era was very much predicated on our Defence Forces and other emergency services having detailed knowledge of the entire Border terrain.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy has done a lot of research on this and has spoken to a lot of military personnel. I will review this and ask my Department to factor in any potential use of barracks in Cavan in terms of future operational needs. I will bring what the Deputy said to me to the table and ask our officials to review the use of the barracks in the future in respect of military consultations the Deputy has had with former personnel.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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That knowledge is not readily available without our Permanent Defence Force being based locally. At different times, that knowledge and the work of our Defence Forces played a critical role not just in day-to-day security matters but in our State's work in keeping our country free of animal diseases over the decades when there were outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and BSE that threatened our farming and food industries. We must never underestimate the importance of local knowledge and the advantage of decision-making by personnel at local level. Dún Uí Néill has accommodation for more than 200 personnel with appropriate equipment and a helicopter base

By and large, that Army installation is totally intact and in good order. It could be used, at least initially, as a forward-operating base.

The Tánaiste, and Deputies Durkan, Berry and Stanton and I have previously discussed in the House the link between recruitment and an Army presence in a town. We had a long Army tradition in my home town of Cavan, where generation after generation enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force and served our country well both at home and abroad. The Army presence is also critical in increasing our recruitment and retention.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In support of Deputy Smith, it might be fortuitous to look again at the overall structures relating to defence positions throughout the country, given the internationally changing emphasis on security and the challenges emerging on a regular basis. Might it now be fortuitous to look again and reconsider a possible renewal of defensive locations, strategically?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy has resumed his seat so he has to stop talking.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is very important down our way.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank both Deputies for their remarks. I accept what Deputy Smith said about the role of our military in protecting the State, especially against the shocking violence over the 30-year period from the late 1960s to the nineties. I read a book recently, written by Ronan McGreevy and Tommy Conlon, about the kidnapping of Don Tidey, when a private and a garda lost their lives. It illustrates the role of our Defence Forces at that time as an aid to the civilian power. Those were dark days.

The point on recruitment is very valid. It is clear that in the closure of some barracks throughout the country, we lost an element of a recruitment tradition. Many towns throughout the country had a particular military tradition, which resulted in a significant number of recruits into the Army and military. I see that when I do a review of those going to Lebanon and so on. You get the history of families whose fathers and grandfathers served in the Irish forces with great pride and a great sense of local commitment and connection with our military. Barracks did provide that connection. I will bear that in mind. Likewise with Deputy Durkan's points - that review is under way.