Defence Forces
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

To answer the Deputy’s question, the capability will be in place by 1 July for our Presidency. Training is under way.
I was with my French colleague just last week in Paris and we discussed not just the radar programme but other ways in which we are working more closely together. The French have been supporting and working closely with our Defence Forces personnel around the training on how to use this. This is just to assist. I stress that again because there is often a perception that it is the Defence Forces which are going to be carrying out all of these security measures. What they are putting in place will be to supplement and assist the work of An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána already has significant levels of counter-drone technology in place and more that they will put in place during the Presidency. We will assist through the introduction of counter-drone technology through the Defence Forces and throughout the year there will be further technologies provided.
However, we will have what we need in place for the beginning of the Presidency. That training is under way. I assure the Deputy of that. What I spoke of with my colleague Ms Vautrin last week was other ways in which we could work more closely together. Are there other ways in which we can share our knowledge, experience and training? I think we underestimate the level of knowledge that our Defence Forces members and gardaí have in using these types of equipment. It is important that we work together and share our experience and knowledge. Obviously, where we can work together on purchasing, perhaps jointly, different types of technology or capability, we should always look to do that as well.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09