Joint Committee on Defence and National Security meets to discuss the progress on the implementation of the Report on the Commission on the Defence Forces

The Joint Committee on Defence and National Security meets tomorrow, Wednesday 25th March to discuss progress on the implementation of the Report on the Commission on the Defence Forces at 6:30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House.

The meeting will hear from representatives from:
• Implementation Oversight Group for the Commission on the Defence Forces
• Department of Defence
• Irish Defence Forces

The Government appointed the Commission on the Defence Forces on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government in 2020. The Commission has worked since then on considering the appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing of both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and Reserve Defence Force (RDF) with a view to the immediate future and beyond 2030.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said "We welcome representatives tomorrow to discuss progress on the implementation of the Report on the Commission on the Defence Forces. The Report of the Commission on Defence Forces was published in February 2022. The Detailed Implementation Plan was published in November 2023 which the IOG oversees the implementation of the recommendations. An Updated Detailed Implementation Plan was recently published in February 2026.

"We are aware that of the 130 recommendations contained in the Detailed Implementation Plan, 54 are now fully completed. We look forward to discussing with those attending tomorrow on where further progress is being made in order to see the remaining recommendations enacted and fulfilled and what challenges are prevalent in the process."

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