Defence Forces: Motion Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-21 ============================================================ Robbie Gallagher (FF), Labour Panel I second the motion. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo inniu. Like Senator Wilson, this is the first opportunity I have had to converse with her in the Chamber and I wish her well in her new role. I take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the Defence Forces for their excellent service to the country at home and abroad. They do us proud every time they put on their uniforms and we are deeply indebted to them and their families for their service to the State. It is fair to say the Minister has inherited a brief in which there has been chronic underfunding for many years and that has to be taken on board. The recent budget announcement of almost €1.5 billion is a step in the right direction. Until now, the waters, to use a phrase, were calmer in the geopolitical situation. Unfortunately, as we all know too well, that situation has now changed dramatically and what we got away with heretofore will not cut the mustard going forward. Clearly we have a lot of time to make up on what needs to be done not to be classified as the weak link of Europe for our defence situation. If we compare ourselves with such countries as Denmark and Finland, we are a long way behind. Either Denmark or Finland's budget allocation this year was something like €7 billion. That shows that we have a long way to go in that regard. The recent goings on with Russian submarines shadowing our waters and the recent drone attack during the President of Ukraine's visit to this country highlight that we need to be on our game when it comes to the security of our island and we also have an obligation to our EU colleagues to play our part. There have been recent changes to the terms and conditions of Defence Forces members, which are to be welcomed. Our ambition is to reach 11,500 by 2028. We have a long way to go in that regard. We are currently at a figure of approximately 7,700 so we have a lot of work to do to catch up. Again, I take this opportunity to thank both representative bodies, Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, for the excellent work they do on behalf of their members. They advocate for them and have made a good job of that. There have been welcome changes in recent times in relation to pay, the working time directive and a number of other issues that have helped the situation. The recent interest in the recruitment advertising is encouraging and it is important that we, as the Government, recognises the unique role members of the Defence Forces play in their daily duty. Unlike in many other occupations, they put their lives at risk when they go about their duties and that has to be recognised as a special occupation. Therefore, it is important the Government listen to the representative bodies, PDFORRA and RACO, when they advocate on behalf of their members. I acknowledge the record budget allocation this year of almost €1.5 billion. It is welcome and needed and we look forward to that budget increasing year on year to make up for the periods of underinvestment down through the years. It is all very well recruiting people to the Defence Forces, but when we do, it is important we are able to hold on to them. Retention is an important issue. There are problems that affect the members whom we need to listen to. One of those problems is the disparity in the pension entitlements for personnel who enlisted after 1994 and before 2024. That needs to be addressed. It is an issue that not only affects members of the Defence Forces but strays onto members of An Garda Síochána and the fire service as well. That is just one of many issues that need to be addressed. It is important to recognise it is a unique occupation and we need to be cognisant of that. When the representative bodies advocate on behalf of their membership, they are making legitimate claims that deserve to be listened to. They have been banging the drum for many years. The members of the Defence Forces have been speaking with their feet because many of them did not find it to be a recognisable, long-term occupation and those who did join found that the terms and conditions were such that, as my colleague Senator Wilson said, they could not see themselves supporting their families for a long number of years on the income they had. There has been some progress. Much more needs to be done, but I know the Minister will grasp that because what brings this all into focus is that we will take up the EU Presidency in July this year. It is a high-risk situation and one we need to be cognisant of. We will not beef up our defences within the next six months. That is not credible. It is not going to happen. As we have done in this country for many years, we need to depend on our good neighbours in the UK, who have been and are providing security for this State, the detail of which I do not have. It has been a long-running arrangement. We will need to reach out to them and colleagues in the EU to help us to get through this EU Presidency because it is a high-risk situation that we do not want to be left feeling embarrassed about. I thank the Minister for her attendance, acknowledge the work that has been done and recognise that much more needs to be done for us to have a defence system that the people of this country deserve. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-21/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-01-21