Keynote Speech by Tánaiste Simon Harris T.D. PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference

Introduction

President and General Secretary of PDFORRA, Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Assistant Chief of Staff, Department of Defence and Defence Forces’ Representatives, Distinguished Guests, Conference Delegates.

It is a great pleasure and indeed honour for me to join you all here in Killarney this evening – this my first PDFORRA Conference as your Tánaiste and Minister for Defence.

But I want to begin by paying tribute to your frontline colleague, the late Garda Kevin Flatley, who was killed while in the service of duty on Sunday last.

Kevin’s passing has evoked a tremendous sense of pain, grief and numbness – not just within An Garda Síochána but throughout the nation as a whole.

His loss is beyond devastating; A loving husband, a devoted father, a committed member of the force who on Sunday afternoon was simply doing what our Gardaí do best – that’s keeping us all safe.

It’s something that will resonate particularly with you, as soldiers, as peacekeepers, who have also tragically lost colleagues in the line of duty in recent years.

Kevin’s death is the latest reminder of the dangers that you all face when wearing the uniform of An Garda Síochána, or indeed Óglaigh na hÉireann.

So to Kevin’s wife, Una, his two beautiful young children, Aoife and Erin, and his colleagues in An Garda Síochána - you are in our thoughts and our prayers right now and will be so for a long time to come.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

***

Colleagues, we gather here today at a critical juncture for Defence and Security.

The global geopolitical situation is more volatile today than at any time since the end of the Second World War.

In response to this changing global paradigm, we cannot be so naive as to believe that Ireland is somehow immune from the threats and the conflict that we have seen emerge in recent times.

We need only look at the war that is raging on our own continent of Europe, and the detrimental effect this is having on nation states, particularly Ukraine.

Equally, we continue to witness the absolute horror unfold in Gaza.

Towns and villages without access to food, water or medicine.

Communities staring down the barrel of famine.

Doctors and nurses enduring that daily struggle of just trying to keep children alive.

In Gaza right now, hope is the most difficult thing to find.

Just last week, I joined with a number of other Foreign Ministers to express our grave concern about Israel’s plans to expand its military operations in Gaza and to establish a prolonged Israeli presence in the Strip.

This cannot be allowed to happen.

Doing so would only mean crossing yet another line, marking a dangerous new escalation in this war and jeopardising any prospect of a two-State solution.

In the face of these threats, those of us in positions of authority must ensure that the women and men of Óglaigh na hÉireann, are properly equipped to defend our nation at home, as well when deployed on peacekeeping missions overseas.

***

As you know, I have recently returned from Southern Lebanon where I had the privilege of addressing members of the 115th Infantry Battalion, who from this week will rotate with members of the 116th Infantry Battalion.

In Southern Lebanon, our personnel are not just promoters of the peace, they are out there embedded in communities, instilling hope and making a positive difference to peoples’ lives.

The Defence Forces’ role in the UNIFIL Mission is one that the Irish people are rightly proud of, particularly at a time when the security environment is both volatile and tense.

And so, I’m pleased to confirm today at your conference that I will bring a memo to Cabinet in the coming weeks seeking a renewal of the UNIFIL mandate for a further 12 months.

This of course is subject to the renewal of the UN Mandate, which is due to expire on August 31st.

By re-committing to the UNIFIL mission, Ireland is sending out a clear message that we support peace, we value stability, and we care about the people and communities of Southern Lebanon.

It also demonstrates our commitment and determinatiion to continuing Ireland’s proud peacekeeping record, now the longest unbroken record held by any country in the world.

***

Colleagues, before returning from Lebanon, I had the opportunity to hold political discussions with both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence.

During those talks, I raised in the strongest possible terms our deep frustration with the progress in the case of Private Seán Rooney.

Let me be very clear: The delays in this case are not acceptable.

The Rooney family deserve answers, they deserve accountability.

My officials and I will continue to raise our concerns with the Lebanese Government at the highest level so that the people responsible for Sean Rooney’s death are finally brought to justice.

***

Colleagues, as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, one of my overriding priorities is investing in the Defence Forces’ most important asset; That’s you, our personnel.

I’m glad to see that we have made significant progress in the area of pay and conditions in recent years.

That’s in no small part to the constructive engagement that my Department has had with our representative bodies, including PDFORRA.

I very much recognise the need to continuously strengthen our Defence capabilities and that’s why we have made a number of commitments in that regard, particularly in terms of additional investment.

Through our new Capability Development Unit, we are progressing plans to achieve Level of Ambition 2 and following that, to move as quickly as possible to Level of Ambition 3.

By doing so, we will provide for the development of a full spectrum of Defence Force Capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with other similar-sized European countries.

I want to be frank with you this evening.

Achieving LOA3 is a mammoth challenge.

It will require Government to step up and show that we are serious in relation to increasing our Defence Spending.

In my view as Tánaiste, displaying that level of seriousness should not be seen as an option; It is a necessity.

***

Since my appointment, I have had the opportunity of getting out around the country, visiting many of our Barracks and meeting Defence Forces personnel.

I have also had the opportunity to see first-hand some of the projects that we are delivering as part of our increased Defence Budget.

From the new Defence Forces Training School Headquarters in the Curragh, to the new Hangar at Custume Barracks in Athlone, the almost €50 million investment in our Army Ranger Wing Headquarters to the significant funding for Gormanston – these projects will make a huge difference to the lives of Defence Force personnel today, and into the future.

I’m pleased to report too that we are making significant progress in acquiring radar and sonar capabilities, so that we can properly police our skies and seas.

However, as I said in the Dáil last week, “we can have all the investment plans, and we need to in the Defence Forces, but the men and women in the Defence Forces constitute its most important resource.”

***

On that note, I want to touch on the area of recruitment and retention, which is one of the most important priorities for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence.

Just yesterday, I met with my senior leadership team, which is made up of both senior Department Officials and Members of the General Staff.

We had a very detailed and frank discussion about how we can do more in the area of recruitment and retention.

I want to ensure that our existing recruitment and retention frameworks are fully optimised and effective.

Rest assured, where changes are needed, they will happen.

And where new initiatives are required, they will be introduced.

Whilst there are still undoubtedly challenges and there is always more that can be done, progress is being made on a number of fronts.

The record levels of expenditure for the Defence sector reflects my intent in this regard.

Budget 2025 has provided an allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector, funding which will provide for the recruitment of at least a net additional 400 personnel per annum.

A Joint Induction Training Centre has been established in Gormanston and, when fully operational, will enable induction training to be provided to 900 recruits per annum.

Recently the largest recruit class of 72 recruits was welcomed into this facility.

Increases in the maximum age of recruitment for General Service/Cadets to 39, and to 50 for Direct Entry specialists last year has expanded considerably the pool of potential candidates for careers in the Defence Forces.

I’m pleased to say too that interest in a career in the Defence Forces grew significantly during 2024 with a total of 13,384 applications received across all competitions- an increase of 33 per cent on the previous year.

But we can – and we will - do more to tackle the challenges associated with Recruitment and Retention.

I have asked my Defence Force leadership team to ensure all options are reviewed when it comes to bringing new people into the Defence Forces, as well as keeping the talented personnel that we already have.

***

Complementing the progress made in relation to pay and conditions, one of the most significant developments, over the last year, has been the removal of the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces in the 1997 Organisation of Working Time Act.

I must acknowledge the significant role the Representative Associations played, in this consultative process that has got us to this point.

The application of the Act is as an important step in aligning the Defence Forces with modern workforce standards and improving the health and safety of every member.

Colleagues, focusing on this important theme of cultural change, I want to mention another important step that we have taken in recent weeks.

It is just over two years since the publication of the Independent Review Group (IRG) report, which signalled the critical need for fundamental culture change in the Defence Forces.

In the interim, there has been significant progress made in the implementation of the IRG recommendations.

I recently launched the new independent, Interim Grievance Manager process for serving members of the Defence Forces for complaints of an interpersonal nature, which Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court has agreed to head up.

Speaking to this Conference, I want to acknowledge and thank PDFORRA Leadership for their constructive engagement.

The feedback and observations received from PDFORRA played a vital part in the development of the process.

This new process will be in place, initially, on a non-statutory basis for a pilot of 12 months, with a view to implementing a more permanent statutory based complaints scheme.

I can assure you that PDFORRA will be consulted on the review of the process, a review that will take place in 2026.

I further want to acknowledge PDFORRA’s very positive engagement in the Working Group that developed a process for complaints that arise across the work streams of civilians, civil servants and members of the Defence Forces.

Work is progressing to make this process available to personnel.

All of these steps are an important part in a wider review and redesign of the grievance management framework within the Defence Forces, which is aimed at building trust and confidence in the complaints processes.

I am also very encouraged to note PDFORRA’s recent re-engagement with the External Oversight Body. The Body is a critical element in driving and achieving the goal of culture change throughout the Defence Forces and I hope this constructive engagement will continue.

I want to assure you of my commitment to the journey of cultural transformation.

Ensuring a safe and secure environment for members of our Defence Forces will always be a key priority of mine and this Government.

***

In conclusion, I want to assure you of my continued support for your organisation and the valuable work you carry out, every single day.

I very much look forward to more constructive engagement with PDFORRA, on a range of issues ,over the coming weeks and months.

This is an important time in the history of Óglaigh na hÉireann.

The future story and journey of Ireland’s Defence Forces can only be shaped and mapped-out in cooperation and a coming together. It has to be a shared endeavour.

I will continue to work with you to drive forward positive change and investment.

You are an essential part in the fabric of our State and the work you do is a source of great pride for very many people.

Your work protects the State and its citizens and for that we are all rightly grateful.

I know that the Assistant Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, will be addressing your conference.

Rossa, I want to wish you well in your new role as Chief of Staff when the current Chief, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy takes up his new role as Chief of the EU Military Committee.

Equally, I wish Lieutenant General Clancy every success in this important role, given the global context in which he is assuming this position.

Securing a position like he has is a remarkable achievement and it’s something this country can be rightly proud of.

***

Finally, I am aware that this is the last conference that Mark Keane will serve as President of PDFORRA.

Mark has, over the last number of years, been a strong and effective advocate for all members of this Association.

Mark, I want to thank you for all your leadership, your positive engagement and your constant desire to work together to find solutions.

You have been a great servant to both Óglaigh na hÉireann and PDFORRA and I wish you well in your future endeavours.

Colleagues, I wish you all the very best in your ongoing discussions here at conference, in the beautiful surrounds of Killarney.

Thank you for our invitation, for your welcome, your hospitality here this evening, and above all, for the work that you do.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.