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Thursday 28 September 2023 Dublin: 15°C

# Irish Defence Forces

This month
September 2023
Rank and file defence group gives 'cautious' welcome for military medical care scheme
The measure was a key recommendation in the Commission on Defence Forces report which looked at modernisation of the Irish military.
Last month
August 2023
Irish Naval Service will have just 'two ships full time' to patrol seas for the rest of 2023
The ships available to go to sea will be the LÉ Samuel Beckett and LÉ William Butler Yeats – it is understood a third ship will be on standby.
This year
2023
Cabinet clears the way for Irish troops to take part in major EU military exercise in Spain
The exercise will take place in Cadiz, Spain in October and will test Europe’s military crisis management capability.
TD brands Curragh 'Ireland's most derelict town' over crumbling homes
Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced €55 million funding today for defence infrastructure – but this will not address Curragh dereliction.
NATO assessors return to Cork as Irish soldiers hone their skills
The Journal was invited to Killworth’s Lynch Camp to see how Irish Defence Forces personnel were interacting with NATO.
New approach needed to protect Irish and other peacekeepers from attack, top UN diplomat says
Former Major General Michael Beary spoke to The Journal about Ireland’s part in peace building.
Ombudsman of the Defence Forces records an increase in complaints in first six months of 2023
Ombudsman Mr Justice Alan Mahon said the increase is likely associated with the publication of a report into abuse and harassment.
The Irish Air Corps' new maritime patrol aircraft touches down in Dublin
The aircraft is the first of two CASA 295 aircraft which will be used to patrol the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone off the Irish coast.
Irish general who liaises between State, EU and Nato calls defence links 'a force for good'
Brig Gen Ger Buckley was speaking to The Journal’s Niall O’Connor in Brussels last week.
Documents reveal divisions between Dept and military on how to handle abuse claims
A report by
Niall O'Connor
Our investigation uncovers a divergence in views between senior civil servants and military officers on how best to prevent abuse.
New Defence Forces head of transformation begins work to bring about change in military
Brian Molloy has previously worked in the Department of Social Protection after a career in the financial services sector.
Ireland is to join four European defence projects following cabinet approval
The four projects, which will need Dáil approval, are associated with purchase of military equipment, ammunition and also cyber security information sharing.
Flanagan: TDs 'frustrated' by slow pace of Irish defence action plan implementation
The comments were made during a hearing with Julie Sinnamon, chair of an independent oversight group tasked with overseeing change management.
Inside the military and diplomatic mission to evacuate Irish citizens from Sudan
A report by
Niall O'Connor
Earlier this week The Journal spoke to two officers who devised and planned the Sudan ECAT in which more than 200 people were rescued.
Private Seán Rooney to be honoured with posthumous award at UN ceremony
Private Rooney is to be awarded posthumously for his service in Lebanon by the UN security council.
Irish troops complete first bomb disposal course for Ukrainian soldiers
The Irish soldiers, comprising of six instructors, from the Engineer and Ordnance Corps, were working alongside Cypriot military engineers.
'Radical' change to Irish Defence Forces command structures to be brought before Cabinet today
The changes will see a Chief of Defence (CHOD) created and legislation drafted to completely change the strategic command of the Irish Defence Forces.
Ireland's air policing security failure and how the British system keeps their skies safe
There are 1.2 million flights passing over our heads on an annual basis which is 80% of all transatlantic traffic.
Defence Forces launches campaign to recruit Russian linguists to carry out intelligence work
The role is similar to that used by foreign intelligence services such as MI5 and MI6 in the UK.
Ex-Ombudsman: Military monitoring group may have been shelved by Government to save money in 2018
Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn, SC, was speaking at the annual delegate conference of PDFORRA
Filling the ever increasing gaps - inside the Defence Forces retention crisis
The PDFORRA conference is taking place in Trim, Co Meath.
'Not enough being done' to implement key recommendations in landmark Defence report
PDFORRA, the group representing 6,500 enlisted members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, will begin its annual delegate conference in Trim, Co Meath today.
17 properties searched in Limerick as part of operation targeting organised crime group
‘Open areas of land in the Southill area of Limerick City are also being searched, supported by the Irish Defence Forces’, said a garda spokesperson.
Govt agrees to deploy Army Ranger Wing to help Irish citizens leave Sudan
Joe Biden has called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire”.
The Explainer: What's the story with Irish neutrality?
We’re joined this week on the podcast by Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of Modern Irish History at UCD, to look at Irish neutrality and its opaque history.
Irish troops safe in bomb shelters as Israel attacks targets north of UNIFIL camp
Israel launched airstrikes and artillery attacks in response to rockets fired from south Lebanon.
Irish Naval Service to send ship to combat arms smugglers off coast of Libya
The Government cleared the way this morning for the deployment.
Gardaí begin investigations into 26 sexual abuse allegations in the Defence Forces
Commissioner Drew Harris encouraged anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse in the Defence Forces to make contact with gardaí.
Ex-army officer tells Dáil of offence culture & need for Chief of staff powers to suspend wrongdoers
Cathal Berry, TD, calls for discipline powers to be given to Chief of Staff to deal with alleged abusers in military.
Women of Honour: Statutory inquiry process 'must start within days rather than weeks'
The Women of Honour group has been credited as the catalyst for the establishment of the Independent Review Group into allegations of abuse in the Irish military.
An organisation that 'barely tolerates' women: Report details extent of abuse in Defence Forces
The IRG report details a raft of structural failures in the organisation.
The report lays out the finding of the probe and makes a number of recommendations.
It found bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment persists.
Legislative frameworks and HR practices are not fit for purpose and out of date.
Govt to carry out 'study of deaths by suicide' in the Defence Forces over past 20 years
Defence Forces 'commends bravery' of female members who came forward to make harassment complaints
Govt to carry out 'study of deaths by suicide' in the Defence Forces over past 20 years
Micheál Martin met with the Women of Honour group to discuss the report yesterday.
Women of Honour hold 'constructive' meeting with Tánaiste as report due to be published tomorrow
Diane Byrne, a former Irish Defence Forces officer, was speaking ahead of a meeting at Government buildings.
Military Chief: Cathal Brugha Barracks housing for troops must be considered if base is sold
Lt General Séan Clancy also spoke about abuse allegations, European rules on working times, recruitment, retention and resourcing.
Atheist who was discriminated against by Defence Forces asks Micheál Martin for an apology
John Hamill was discriminated against after he applied to be a chaplain with the Defence Forces and is asking the Táinaiste for an apology.
Report due on study into social media complaints of alleged military sexual misconduct
The Journal has obtained the findings in the report compiled by Ruth FItzgerald – it is due to be published in the coming days.
Undersea cables like those off Irish coast could have beefed up security under new EU naval plan
A report by
Niall O'Connor
The strategy document, titled “An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats, was released last week.
The strategy document, titled "An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats, was released last week.
Sources have said that the strategy could benefit Ireland in funding and other support.
The Government has repeatedly stated that Ireland is not joining any military alliances.
Soldier, sailor, technician - the lives of three women in the Irish Defence Forces
To mark International Women’s Day we sat down with three women working in the Irish Defence Forces.
Public service staffing crisis not just an Irish problem but 'a Europe-wide issue'
European and Irish public services employees met in Dublin this week to discuss how to future-proof the sector amid a retention crisis.
Defence Forces to spend €140,000 on branded merchandise, including trolley tokens and wristbands
Other items include protein shakers, leather notebooks, and a range of clothing.