The Irish Examiner understands the Naval Service is preparing to bring back into service its flagship, LÉ Eithne, to carry out Covid-19 virus testing in Cork city.

Soldiers who have to come into barracks to provide support services get no extra allowance.

Ireland is “probably the most vulnerable” in Europe from a defence point of view, a major security conference has been told.

Serving sailors and former comrades of a Navy man who died helping to save the crew of a Spanish trawler held a special commemoration to remember him 30 years to the day of the tragedy.

Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe is being targeted by former members of the Defence Forces who are trying to encourage voters in the forthcoming General Election not to vote for him.

An expert group has made a submission to the government saying it must bolster the Naval Service to protect the country's maritime security.

More than 120 people working for the Defence Forces are on such low pay they have to rely on benefits to make ends meet.

The country’s first charity air ambulance faces being grounded in two weeks.

The army conducted nearly 200 operations in support of An Garda Síochána involving bomb disposal call outs, prisoner escorts, cash escorts, and search operations.

General Secretary of RACO, Commandant Conor King, said that even some short-term measures promised in the Government's 'High Level Implementation Plan' are "significantly behind schedule"

Former Irish Defence Forces soldier Lisa Smith, who is facing trial accused of ISIS membership, has been granted bail with strict conditions including an internet and social media ban.

Former Irish defence forces soldier Lisa Smith, who was charged with membership of ISIS, has been further remanded in prison custody for a book of evidence to be completed.

If Stephen Cluxton follows Jim Gavin into retirement, all bets are off for 2020, writes Éamonn Fitzmaurice.

The State is in the final stages of purchasing Aerfort Na Minna in Connemara in order to secure long-term connectivity to the Aran Islands.

A chronic shortage of trained pilots has forced the Air Corps to reduce the number of hours it will fly the Emergency Aeromedical Service helicopter, based in Athlone.

The exodus from the Defence Forces continues unabated with 70 personnel bailing out of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps last month - 16 of whom were recruits in training.

Women may only account for just 6.5% of the Naval Service but for the first time in its history, three of its ships - a third of the fleet - are being captained by female Lieutenant Commanders.

A young girl has been airlifted from the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary today after suffering injuries in a fall.

Young people are snapping up apprenticeships, availing of the chance to “earn and learn” across a range of skills areas not usually associated with the in-house training model.

The junior defence minister has refused to say when Air Corps technicians were first trained to use respirators for working with toxic chemicals.

The percentage of those looking to quit the Defence Forces for better opportunities in the private sector is highest among air corps personnel, with those in the naval service a close second.

A lobby group fighting for better pay and conditions for the Defence Forces is considering mounting an assault on the Dáil — through the ballot box.

The Irish army will not be flying into Syria to help Irish ISIS bride Lisa Smith return home, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

"To be honest I don't think I will be going back, ever."

The State must disclose a range of documents to a former aircraft mechanic in the Air Corps who is suing it over his alleged exposure on dates during the 1990s to dangerous chemicals, the Supreme Court has ruled.

A pay review is to be undertaken in the next three months aimed at addressing the exodus of highly trained engineers and technicians in the Defence Forces, especially in the Naval Service.

A former Army private, a rugby international, a martial arts instructor and a one-time IT recruitment consultant are among nine young men who have become the latest additions to the Naval Service officers' ranks.

His comments follow those of Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has called for Ms Smith and her two-year-old daughter to be brought home to Ireland.

The two representative associations for the Defence Forces are set to have their national executive meeting within days to consider the fall-out from the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) report.

The Air Corps “seems to be a place where there’s an abnormal number of people who die prematurely”, according to a member of the Oireachtas’ Public Account Committee.

The Irish Coast Guard will be leading tributes to four helicopter heroes on the 20th anniversary of their deaths.

A former senior chief petty officer in the Naval Service has said he never thought he would see the day when two ships had to be tied-up indefinitely because of manpower shortages.

The tax-payer is set to splurge just over €350,000 on new bespoke, tailored uniforms for staff at Leinster House and Áras an Uachtaráin.

“Minister Kehoe is constantly at pains to point out how safety, health and well-being of Air Corps personnel are of primary concern but his lack of action shows he doesn't give a damn."

There are critical shortages of officers in all sections of the Defence Forces, forcing junior officers to act up and becoming overstressed, while others are often "double and treble-jobbing" to cover the gaps.

Preparations for the massive security operation being mounted for the visit of US President Donald Trump to Co Clare are continuing apace.

Proposed increases in allowances for members of the Defence Forces could make the retention and recruitment crisis worse, not better, it has been warned.