Defence

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

'Embarrassing': Ireland's defence capabilities questioned over drone incursion during Zelenskiy visit

'Embarrassing': Ireland's defence capabilities questioned over drone incursion during Zelenskiy visit

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

People called Ireland's defence capabilities "embarrassing" in messages to Taoiseach Micheál Martin
'Considerable' concern Ireland lacks ability to protect itself ahead of EU presidency role

'Considerable' concern Ireland lacks ability to protect itself ahead of EU presidency role

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

The report cautioned that "hostile actors amy may use this as an opportunity for disruption and to cause harm".
Anti-drone technology will be in place by next summer – Helen McEntee

Anti-drone technology will be in place by next summer – Helen McEntee

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Minister of Defence, Helen McEntee said it was ‘essential’ that Ireland’s defence continued to be funded amid ’emerging’ threats.
Ireland 'unprepared' for coastal threats but could avail of EU assistance, MEP says

Ireland 'unprepared' for coastal threats but could avail of EU assistance, MEP says

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

The presence of Russian vessels off the Irish coast has been well documented in the last few years
People Before Profit TDs use Zelensky speech to oppose ‘military escalation’

People Before Profit TDs use Zelensky speech to oppose ‘military escalation’

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

The party’s two TDs did not clap following the Ukrainian president’s address to a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Tánaiste willing to ‘engage’ on cadet pay

Tánaiste willing to ‘engage’ on cadet pay

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers has asked Simon Harris to urgently increase the pay of cadets.
Taoiseach warns of ‘naivety’ in Ireland around threat posed by Russia

Taoiseach warns of ‘naivety’ in Ireland around threat posed by Russia

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025

Micheál Martin was speaking as he arrived for a European Political Community meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday
Ireland ‘eager to assist’ if peacekeeping mission required in Ukraine

Ireland ‘eager to assist’ if peacekeeping mission required in Ukraine

Sun, 28 Sep, 2025

But Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is ‘no sign or sight’ of a peace agreement being struck in the near future.
Ireland to sign up to €150bn EU defence initiative

Ireland to sign up to €150bn EU defence initiative

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Simon Harris is expected to announce the decision to join the programme later on Friday.
‘Hands off Irish neutrality’: Opposition pushes back against triple-lock changes

‘Hands off Irish neutrality’: Opposition pushes back against triple-lock changes

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Opposition politicians have encouraged people to protest against proposed changes to Ireland’s system for deploying troops abroad.
Opposition pushes back against attempt to restrict defence committee remit

Opposition pushes back against attempt to restrict defence committee remit

Wed, 30 Apr, 2025

The Dáil is expected to vote on the parameters within which committees will be set up.
Ireland's first military radar system to be rolled out next year

Ireland's first military radar system to be rolled out next year

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

Ireland's first military radar system is to rolled out from next year
New military airplane spent 40% of last year in Spain

New military airplane spent 40% of last year in Spain

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

One of the Defence Forces newest aircraft has spent almost 40 per cent of the last year undergoing maintenance in Spain.
Government to buy 6,000 modern body armour units for Defence Forces soldiers

Government to buy 6,000 modern body armour units for Defence Forces soldiers

Sun, 30 Mar, 2025

The new body armour will provide ‘state-of-the-art protection’ to troops during their missions, the Tánaiste said.
Ireland needs to invest more in soldiers because of neutrality – Harris

Ireland needs to invest more in soldiers because of neutrality – Harris

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

He said Ireland also needed to invest in capabilities to monitor what happens ‘around our seas and in our skies’.
Law to modify deployment triple lock to be ‘scrutinised robustly’ – Harris

Law to modify deployment triple lock to be ‘scrutinised robustly’ – Harris

Sat, 08 Mar, 2025

Minister for Defence Simon Harris emphasised that he values Ireland’s neutrality.
Sinn Féin describes plans to amend deployment triple lock as ‘very dangerous’

Sinn Féin describes plans to amend deployment triple lock as ‘very dangerous’

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Pearse Doherty said Ireland has an international reputation of having respected peacekeepers throughout the world
Arms manufacturer to open third facility in North after €2bn Ukraine missiles order

Arms manufacturer to open third facility in North after €2bn Ukraine missiles order

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Thales, a French-owned arms company, already runs a factory in east Belfast and test facility in Co Down.
Suspension of US support for Ukraine a ‘serious setback’, says Taoiseach

Suspension of US support for Ukraine a ‘serious setback’, says Taoiseach

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

The Cabinet is to sign off on €100 million in increased aid for Ukraine.
Harris to bring legislation to amend triple lock on Defence Forces deployments

Harris to bring legislation to amend triple lock on Defence Forces deployments

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Simon Harris said Ireland’s ‘proud tradition’ in peacekeeping cannot be held up by ‘paralysis at UN’.
Ireland needs to double defence spending amid undersea cable threat, Minister says

Ireland needs to double defence spending amid undersea cable threat, Minister says

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the world had 'changed dramatically in the last three years'
‘Significant increase’ in defence spending will not affect neutrality – Tánaiste

‘Significant increase’ in defence spending will not affect neutrality – Tánaiste

Sat, 15 Feb, 2025

Simon Harris, who is Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, made the comments as he attended the Munich Security Conference
Tánaiste accused of ‘PR exercise’ over new complaints process

Tánaiste accused of ‘PR exercise’ over new complaints process

Sun, 10 Nov, 2024

The Department of Defence announced an interim complaints procedure for Defence Forces members.
Eamon Ryan raises ‘ambiguity’ over alleged munitions flights

Eamon Ryan raises ‘ambiguity’ over alleged munitions flights

Thu, 17 Oct, 2024

Some flights which were reported to have carried munitions through Irish airspace were not in breach on international law, Eamon Ryan said.
Tánaiste accused of ‘disgraceful cop-out’ over tribunal deadline

Tánaiste accused of ‘disgraceful cop-out’ over tribunal deadline

Mon, 30 Sep, 2024

The tribunal was established to investigate bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces.
Women of Honour calls for extension of Defence Forces tribunal deadline

Women of Honour calls for extension of Defence Forces tribunal deadline

Sun, 29 Sep, 2024

Women of Honour wants the deadline for submission of statements to be extended beyond close of business on September 30.
‘Arms production has defeated diplomacy’ too often, Higgins says

‘Arms production has defeated diplomacy’ too often, Higgins says

Tue, 17 Sep, 2024

President Michael D Higgins officially opened the National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois.
Irish soldiers prepare for ‘likely’ deployment in 2025 with EU battlegroup

Irish soldiers prepare for ‘likely’ deployment in 2025 with EU battlegroup

Wed, 11 Sep, 2024

More than 170 Irish soldiers will be part of the group that could be deployed next year for peace enforcement or humanitarian crisis response.
Micheál Martin encourages employers to support Defence Forces reserves

Micheál Martin encourages employers to support Defence Forces reserves

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

The Tánaiste also condemned attacks on gardaí as ‘an attack on democracy’.
President signs Government’s Defence Bill into law

President signs Government’s Defence Bill into law

Wed, 17 Jul, 2024

It came after the legislation was referred to the Council of State to discuss its constitutionality.
Council of State meets to discuss constitutionality of Defence Bill

Council of State meets to discuss constitutionality of Defence Bill

Mon, 15 Jul, 2024

The meeting took place to examine legislation to regulate Defence Forces’ representative associations.
President Higgins summons Council of State over Defence Bill

President Higgins summons Council of State over Defence Bill

Fri, 12 Jul, 2024

The Council of State will meet on Monday afternoon
Minister concerned over historical sexual assault convictions in Defence Forces

Minister concerned over historical sexual assault convictions in Defence Forces

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she didn't want a situation where somebody convicted of a serious offence in the past has 'since been promoted'
Harris expresses frustration with Defence Forces controversy

Harris expresses frustration with Defence Forces controversy

Sun, 30 Jun, 2024

The Taoiseach earlier said that information on how many serving members had criminal convictions was not immediately available to him.
Defence Forces inquiry into workplace issues formally established

Defence Forces inquiry into workplace issues formally established

Thu, 20 Jun, 2024

Tánaiste Micheál Martin signed a statutory instrument to establish the tribunal on Thursday
Chief ‘encourages’ personnel to engage with Defence Forces tribunal

Chief ‘encourages’ personnel to engage with Defence Forces tribunal

Thu, 16 May, 2024

The Government has ordered a tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces.
Lieutenant General Sean Clancy gets top job at EU Military Committee

Lieutenant General Sean Clancy gets top job at EU Military Committee

Wed, 15 May, 2024

He will take up the role in May 2025.
Taoiseach confirms plan to scrap 'triple lock' restriction

Taoiseach confirms plan to scrap 'triple lock' restriction

Thu, 18 Apr, 2024

The Taoiseach made the comments during his first visit to the European Council.
'Glaring gaps' in Ireland's defence remain as Defence Forces numbers fall to 7,500

'Glaring gaps' in Ireland's defence remain as Defence Forces numbers fall to 7,500

Thu, 18 Apr, 2024

The Defence Forces' "historically low" numbers of 7,500 are a reflection of the slow pace of implementing recommended reforms
Production at Northern Ireland weapons plant doubles amid war in Ukraine

Production at Northern Ireland weapons plant doubles amid war in Ukraine

Mon, 25 Mar, 2024

The Thales plant in east Belfast design and produce high precision missiles
Irish Guards led by Irish Wolfhound mascot in St Patrick’s Day parade in Hampshire

Irish Guards led by Irish Wolfhound mascot in St Patrick’s Day parade in Hampshire

Sun, 17 Mar, 2024

The Guardsman gathered at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire
British soldier from Northern Ireland killed while off duty in Kenya

British soldier from Northern Ireland killed while off duty in Kenya

Sat, 02 Dec, 2023

Major Kevin McCool, 32, died in the African country on November 29th, the UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed
Tánaiste and Women of Honour to re-engage over inquiry terms

Tánaiste and Women of Honour to re-engage over inquiry terms

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

A spokeswoman said ‘serious issues’ remain in the negotiations.

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