I need to return to the original question. Has the Minister identified additional threats locally there, particularly in view of the changing situation and the reduction in the numbers of Irish troops there over the course of days, weeks, months or whatever length of time that will take? There is likely to be some level of additional threat there. Have any threats been identified from either side? To return to the point about Irish troops having been fired on by the IDF and the challenges the Minister may have made…

The recent visit of President Zelenskyy highlighted the threat from drones and the gaps in our defences in respect of how we deal with drones. Will the Minister outline efforts to deal with drone threats and hybrid conflict?

One of the issues that was highlighted arising from that incident was where the Irish vessel was not able or did not feel it could engage with the drone because there were no rules of engagement in place. Will that be dealt with? Will they be put in place and how quickly will that happen? There is a whole range of policies that would be needed to support dealing with the drones, I imagine. I understand the Minister is looking at the possibility of investing up to €1.6 billion in a radar system which would be in pla…

Drone technology is typically used as part of hybrid warfare, where there are various techniques including online, physically on the ground or indeed under water. I have raised repeatedly the threat to the cables offshore and the danger there as well. It seems we do not have underwater capability so the view was to have wireless or remote-controlled visibility under the sea as well. Is the Minister advancing drone technology to defend the underwater cables as well? Is the drone defence entirely a radar of the skies…

Will the Minister outline the progress that has been made on the introduction of the rank of lance corporal? When will it be introduced to the Army?

As the Minister has said, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the creation of the new rank of lance corporal in the Army and the Air Corps. It also recommended that consideration be given to whether there is a need for an equivalent rank in the Naval Service. The qualification course for this rank should be of short duration and conducted in the home unit. The commission believes the creation of the rank of lance corporal would allow for earlier rank progression for enlisted personnel with leadership p…

The first thing I take from the Minister's response is that a decision has not been made to put such a rank in place. When my colleagues and I had the opportunity to meet with PDFORRA recently, the association was very clear that this was needed. The Commission on the Defence Forces has also been very clear on it. Why is there uncertainty as to whether this rank would be created? Time can be spent trying to develop the course and bring it to fruition but the decision as to whether it should be introduced or not sho…

When it floods in Crookstown, it floods people's homes and businesses and it blocks off the R585, a key artery in and out of west Cork, the Bantry line. It becomes impassable and the centre of the village quickly becomes flooded. What plans are in place for flood defence works in the village of Crookstown?

There is no quick and easy solution in Crookstown, given the way the flooding occurs. A big aspect of it is the junction at Clifford's and the way that gets inundated and flooded. I understand plans are being advanced with the council on a sump and pumping out. It has been conducting some of that work. It is looking around at a checkerboard of funding options, including climate change adaptation and resilience works as well as its own funding. It impedes any kind of a job being done when it is spending more time hu…

I thank the Minister of State. First, I acknowledge the co-operation and the back-and-forth with regard to the work that has been done there. We saw it further up the Lee recently, with funding made available in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh. I acknowledge that and thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge also the co-operation that has been going on in Crookstown. There is definitely no quick or easy answer in Crookstown and if it means engaging with the Department of Transport, I am pretty sure the council will b…

The recently published national development plan update sets out an ambitious plan for key infrastructure for the years ahead. Many of the capital works are due to get under way by 2030 and others thereafter. Having a pipeline of projects ready is vital because there is so much background work involved with them. I am particularly focused on the ones after 2030. We have seen how the N22 Macroom bypass took many years to advance through the earlier stages, such as the background works, planning and design and so on.…

Guidelines need to be put in place for the development of biogas plants and they need to be advanced as soon as possible. Community groups have raised a range of concerns with me about the development of biomethane gas plants in their locality. They have questions about whether land should be used for food production or energy crops. They also question whether guidelines could be established about the types of feedstocks used and how locally they need to be sourced. Setback distances are a point many communities ar…

Communities are concerned that biomethane development is going to happen in a disorderly way and that developers are going to walk over communities to make money. The communities need to know that the Minister of State has their back. Does the Government have the backs of the communities on this? They are worried. The Minister of State outlines where visual impact, land zoning plans, ecology and various other aspects are already covered in existing legislation and in existing policy documents. Yet, communities rais…

Last year more than 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána. It was a very successful recruitment campaign. At this point, how many of those people have come through Garda training? What is the capacity of the centre to train and put gardaí on the street?

I thank the Minister. Over 11,000 is a huge number and a very strong statement of interest and of the appetitive for joining the Garda. It is a very positive sign. That recruitment has reached out to various communities. What particular efforts have been made to reach different groupings for recruitment? What is the capacity to bring people through the training centre? Some 794 entered last year. That is a very big number and possibly the largest in some time, but how many at a time are coming through there? How so…

Leis an dá shruth gur tháinig isteach anuraidh, bhí 245 duine a tháinig tríd an sruth Gaeilge i mí Feabhra agus 128 tríd an sruth Gaeilge san fhómhar. Is léir go bhfuil laghdú ann i líon na ndaoine atá ag teacht tríd an sruth Gaeilge. Cad iad na hiarrachtaí faoi leith atá á ndéanamh chun Gaeilgeoirí a mhealladh isteach tríd an sruth Gaeilge agus chun neartú a dhéanamh ar an líon Gaeilgeoirí laistigh den chóras? Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil iarrachtaí faoi leith á ndéanamh le fógraíocht, ach an bhfuil aon rud breise á …

With the increasing incidence of bird flu in the wild bird population and, more recently, a fourth turkey farm, it is a concern for flock owners and people who have an interest in wildlife. Will the Minister give an outline of the level of testing that is being conducted and the support that will be there for people whose livelihood has been impacted by the restrictions and the outbreaks?

Poultry farmers are obviously concerned. Where there are outbreaks, even where there are restrictions, it is challenging and very difficult for poultry farmers. There needs to be a realistic support or compensation package in place. As the Minister said, Fota Wildlife Park has been closed since October. It is losing out on income. It has also lost some of its birds. The impact on staff, people around there and the wildlife is significant. Has the Minister engaged with them? What kind of support will be available an…

The compensation package is very focused on the commercial sector where a cull has taken place. The example I outlined of the wildlife park does not fit neatly into that situation. Thankfully, a minimal number of birds will be lost there. However, there are many other instances where the restrictions themselves are putting a cost on the likes of poultry farms. They have to keep a house warm when they do not know how quickly a new flock will be coming in. There are costs associated with the restrictions. The Ministe…

I took the opportunity yesterday to meet with Macra na Feirme to discuss its concerns around the new CAP and the impact it would have on farmers and on rural communities. Its members were particularly focused on generational renewal and knowledge transfer, and the CAP was key for funding generation renewal plan. Will the Minister give members of Macra na Feirme assurance that funding will be available for generational renewal and that action will be taken on implementing that plan?