Peacekeeping is the most noble act of all. We pay tribute to the courage and commitment of our Defence Forces personnel in Lebanon and in UNDOF in Syria. Their mission is to protect the civilian population in the area. We have been doing this for decades now, generally within Lebanon. In recent years the situation has become more challenging, particularly now in the context of the heightened tensions in the region. There has been a ratcheting up of exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, although not yet at a level…

That decision has been taken on foot of recommendations from the Chief of Staff and military management. One has to take those decisions to give adequate time for their implementation so that decision was taken about a year ago, following recommendations to bring clarity to planning into the future. We have participated in every EU battle group since 1999 and will participate in this one as well. That is the policy position of Government. Regarding the Deputy's earlier question, we keep in close contact with the Ch…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The military authorities advise that at the end of October 2023, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stood at 7,595. The establishment of the Defence Forces was recently increased to 9,589. This increase is intended to expedite implementation of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, through the creation of 89 additional promotional opportunities. I have previously acknowledged recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces and …

This year alone, 409 personnel have been inducted into the Defence Forces, comprising 310 general service recruits, 61 cadets and a number of others in various specialist positions. We have provided unlimited resources for media, and various campaigns are on the way for the Naval Service and the Defence Forces more generally. General service recruitment is ongoing. There are campaigns also seeking direct-entry applications from qualified doctors, motor technicians and so forth, as well as for women in the recruitme…

There were a number of issues there. The pause in psychometric testing for the Naval Service continues but we will have an evaluation of it. Specific advertising for specialist recruitment is placed in industry-specific publications. Deputy Dillon talked about campaigns and websites. As part of the Naval Service-specific recruitment campaign, the second phase of an advertisement was launched in October of this year and it is planned that it will run until early December. The marketing strategy for the Defence Force…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 52 together. First, no such equation was ever made. The report of the IRG established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report, which included the establishment of a statutory inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system to ensure accountability and transparency. Draft terms of reference were prepared in consultation with the …

This was discussed at the meeting before any letter was sent out. It was discussed by the Attorney General with the legal advisers to the Women of Honour. Reading it, the intent is quite obvious. If we include every aspect of the health and safety Act as a term of reference that is a problem due to the length of time the tribunal would subsequently take and it is by including that one would be equating things, it is arguable. We are saying we should not equate the two. We must prioritise what the inquiry should inq…

The intention of the terms of reference is not to exclude anybody. People will be able to come forward, and we encourage that. On the time issue, experience tells us it is a problem if the terms of reference are not correctly drawn. Bearing in mind the need for closure for victims and survivors and indeed personnel within the Defence Forces right now, it is an important issue because we know previous inquiries have gone on much longer than anybody in the House anticipated. The most recent example is the Siteserv in…

The diplomatic networks are being worked to the full to try to avoid reasonable escalation, including Lebanon. I have spoken to the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, to the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Al Thani, the Egyptian foreign minister, the United Arab Emirates' foreign minister, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister and so on with a view to ensuring all focus is on preventing escalation. I am aware of and have noted the statement made by UNIFIL head of mission…

Everything that can be done is being done with the military command. The Deputy and his party have advocated for the breaking off of diplomatic relations with Israel. In the context of Lebanon and the security of our Defence Forces personnel, we need to retain diplomatic relations with Israel. We need diplomatic channels open. All we have been doing for the past four weeks is maintaining those diplomatic channels and talking to all interested parties that could have influence on all those involved to reduce the pot…

Ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Níl aon amhras anois ach go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó tithe á dtógáil ag an Rialtas seo ná mar a rinne éinne eile. Tá plean i bhfad níos cuimsithí againn ná atá ag an Teachta féin. Níl aon phlean aige. Cé go mbíonn sé ag béiceach i gcónaí, níl mórán taobh thiar de. Níl aon phlean cuimsitheach ag Sinn Féin - faic - agus tá siad i gcoinne scéim i ndiaidh scéime atá ag tabhairt tacaíochta d’aos óg na linne seo.

Deputy Doherty is wrong, and no shouting and roaring is going to change the fact that this Government has significantly turned the dial with regard to house construction. More than 30,000 houses were constructed last year, and we will exceed targets again this year. As reported in the newspapers this morning, commencements are up 14% on last year and completions are up 14% on last year. Sinn Féin does not have a comprehensive housing plan. It has nothing but a collection of sound bites and a few pages.

It has not put in the hard work. When it comes to young people in this country, look at Sinn Féin's policies. It does not do anything for first-time buyers. Its policies are anti-first-time buyers. Sinn Féin would get rid of the help-to-buy scheme from which 42,000 young buyers benefitted. Sinn Féin opposed the First Home scheme, which allows 30% State equity in houses for younger people to buy those houses from which 2,500 people benefitted this year. If Sinn Féin had its way, they would not be able to avail of th…

-----and voted against it. To add to that, Sinn Féin opposed the Land Development Agency; it has a long history of opposing. On the ground, it is probably one of the most serial objectors to housing we have witnessed-----

-----over the last five years. It is, therefore, about time Sinn Féin came forward with substance and not empty rhetoric and sound bites. The fact of the matter is that the Government does have the most comprehensive housing plan, and I have said that before. I do not see that comprehensive plan in any policy document Sinn Féin has produced in respect of that. If we look at, for example, social housing, more than 10,000 social homes were delivered last year in 2022, which is the highest level of social housing deli…

We are not in Government 12 years.

Deputy Doherty is wrong.

Here he goes again.

If I may say so, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle-----

Shouting is not a policy. Shouting and roaring does not deal with the substance of provision. I have always said that housing is the biggest social issue facing this country. That is why Fianna Fáil took up the portfolio at the beginning of this Government. We did not take on an easy task here.