#Defence Forces

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Ombudsman probes case of Army officer who endured ‘tortuous’ legal ordeal
Ombudsman probes case of Army officer who endured ‘tortuous’ legal ordeal
Alan Kearney faced ‘a calculated, brutal withdrawal’ when he needed the Defence Forces the most, writes Mick Clifford

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Army officer suffered years of ‘distress’ facing criminal charges that have since been dropped
Army officer suffered years of ‘distress’ facing criminal charges that have since been dropped
For more than two and a half years, Commandant Alan Kearney had criminal charges hanging over him — but no evidence was ever produced, and all charges have since been dropped

Sun, 14 Sep, 2025

National Cyber Security Centre takes part in Apex exercise alongside Nato members
National Cyber Security Centre takes part in Apex exercise alongside Nato members
Ireland was one of 25 countries, along with Nato members and partners as well as states from Asia and the Pacific, invited to join the exercise in South Korea

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

One-sided discussion on Irish neutrality does not serve democracy
One-sided discussion on Irish neutrality does not serve democracy
The political and media focus on mainstream voices around the triple lock and militarism do not represent the views of an overwhelmingly pro-neutrality public

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Staff shortage may hamper navy fleet plans
Staff shortage may hamper navy fleet plans
Lack of specialist technicians to keep ship engines, electrical systems, and armaments properly functioning

Sun, 07 Sep, 2025

Soldier who blew whistle on bullying left to man phone that never rings
Former peacekeeper says it is wrong for minister to call for Triple Lock removal 
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill made the comments while delivering the keynote address at the recent Michael Collins commemoration

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

‘Ireland will continue to play an outsize role in the United Nations’
‘Ireland will continue to play an outsize role in the United Nations’
Sorcha Crowley spoke with gardaí, soliders, and officials among the many Irish people promoting peace with the UN as it marks its 80th year — work that will continue despite the impending end of Unifil 

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

Meet the 'ambassadors on horseback' of Ireland's Army Equitation School
Meet the 'ambassadors on horseback' of Ireland's Army Equitation School
As the Army Equitation School nears its centenary, riders reflect on its history, global impact, and mission to champion Irish horses

Sat, 30 Aug, 2025

Colin Sheridan: The end of Unifil is the end of Ireland’s innocence in peacekeeping
Colin Sheridan: The end of Unifil is the end of Ireland’s innocence in peacekeeping
As the UN prepares to end its Unifil mission, Ireland must confront difficult choices about peacekeeping, neutrality and foreign policy identity

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

End of Ireland's 47-year Unifil mission in Lebanon deemed 'a major setback'
End of Ireland's 47-year Unifil mission in Lebanon deemed 'a major setback'
Chief of Staff said the new challenge for Ireland's Defence Forces move is 'not welcome' — while the defence minister said the US-Israeli move to end the Unifil mission is 'wholly irresponsible'

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon
Tánaiste: Ending Lebanon peacekeeping mission now would be 'wholly irresponsible'
Simon Harris says Ireland remains committed to peacekeeping as the UN extends its mission in volatile Lebanon until 2027

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

UN Security Council set to renew Lebanon peacekeepers for final time
UN Security Council set to renew Lebanon peacekeepers for final time
UNIFIL patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel. The mandate for the operation is renewed annually, and its current authorization expires on August 31.

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Government to spend €650k on efforts to cut bird and hare strikes at military airbase
Government to spend €650k on efforts to cut bird and hare strikes at military airbase
A Bird Control Unit (BCU) is stationed at the airbase, tasked with keeping the area free of birds and other wildlife with the aim of avoiding strikes that can cause significant damage to aircraft and result in jet engines losing power

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?
ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?
This week, the Government is to take the first step in dismantling Ireland's triple lock system that governs the deployment of peacekeepers abroad

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

Government must restore Irish sovereignty by removing triple lock on peacekeepers, says health minister
Government must restore Irish sovereignty by removing triple lock on peacekeepers, says health minister
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill highlighted how no peacekeeping missions have been sanctioned since 2014

Sun, 24 Aug, 2025

Nearly 13,000 apply as Defence Forces ramp up €2m digital and outdoor recruitment campaign
Nearly 13,000 apply as Defence Forces ramp up €2m digital and outdoor recruitment campaign
Defence Forces invested heavily in online platforms, billboards, and gaming sites in a bid to address long-term recruitment challenges

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

File Pics Garda Chief Superintendent denies claims of a shortage of garda
Traffic gardaí 'letting their colleagues down' if they aren't 'doing their jobs', says Tánaiste
Simon Harris also confirmed that he will meet with the mother of Pte Sean Rooney who was killed while on UN peacekeeping duty in Lebanon in 2022

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Private Sean Rooney inquest
Private Seán Rooney's mother hits out at Tánaiste and Lebanon after sentencing tribunal
"It would perhaps be wise for the Tánaiste to speak to me, before seeking to speak for me, in his public statements," Private Seán Rooney's mother Natasha Rooney stated.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Private Sean Rooney inquest
Main defendant charged with murder of private Seán Rooney sentenced to death
Tánaiste and defence minister Simon Harris said he noted the sentence handed down, along with those handed to a number of the other defendants who had previously not been in court

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

Government urged to clarify military intelligence powers in new phone tapping legislation
Government urged to clarify military intelligence powers in new phone tapping legislation
Surveillance judge says it’s critical Government modernises laws to define military intelligence powers and cover encrypted digital platforms

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

National Development Plan allocates almost €4bn for defence and justice capital spends
National Development Plan allocates almost €4bn for defence and justice capital spends
The Government has committed to implement the second of three levels of investment (LOA2), centred on increasing the annual defence budget from €1.1bn in 2022 to €1.5bn in 2028

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Defence Forces experts train Nato militaries to counter homemade bomb threats
Defence Forces experts train Nato militaries to counter homemade bomb threats
Bomb experts from Australia and New Zealand joined major Nato countries, such as US, Canada, UK, France, and Germany, at the Ordnance School in the Curragh

Sat, 19 Jul, 2025

Watch: Just two new navy officers commissioned — but 11 cadets are now in training 
Watch: Just two new navy officers commissioned — but 11 cadets are now in training 
Only two new officers received their commissions in the ceremony for the 63rd Cadet Class at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Cork, on Friday

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025

'Ireland needs military-grade drones to fend off bombardment of drugs by cocaine cartels' 
'Ireland needs military-grade drones to fend off bombardment of drugs by cocaine cartels' 
In the wake of the Broadstrand drugs seizure and convictions following the MV Matthew case, security sources say Ireland must up its game to tackle drug trafficking

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon
TD who served with Unifil warns end of UN Lebanon mandate would be 'catastrophic' 
Catherine Callaghan's plea comes amid concern that the UN peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon may not have its mandate renewed next month

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Gardaí probe if Aughinish bomb linked to Russian attack on Ukraine
Gardaí probe if Aughinish bomb linked to Russian attack on Ukraine
Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team confirmed the device was viable and rendered it safe after it was discovered late on Friday

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

Irish troop missions 'held hostage' by UN veto, says former army colonel
Irish troop missions 'held hostage' by UN veto, says former army colonel
The Oireachtas Defence Committee is continuing hearings on the Defence Bill 2025 which proposes to scrap the 'Triple Lock'

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Government proposal on triple Lock gives an Irish solution to an Irish problem
Government proposal on triple Lock gives an Irish solution to an Irish problem
The 'self-imposed straitjacket' undermines Irish sovereignty and should have been constitutionally challenged years ago, writes Dorcha Lee

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Ireland’s defence spending slammed as ‘bad joke’ amid Nato push for 3.5% GDP target
Ireland’s defence spending slammed as ‘bad joke’ amid Nato push for 3.5% GDP target
As EU countries ramp up defence spending, Ireland remains at just 0.2% of GDP — a level critics call dangerously low

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Ireland's neutrality and proposed scrapping of triple lock 'entirely unrelated', Dáil committee hears
Ireland's neutrality and proposed scrapping of triple lock 'entirely unrelated', Dáil committee hears
Former senior Department of Defence official said there would be 'no change' to Ireland's neutrality if requirement for UN approval to send Defence Forces abroad was removed from Defence Bill

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Defence Forces Chief of Staff warns that specialised personnel are not paid enough
Defence Forces Chief of Staff warns that specialised personnel are not paid enough
Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy was speaking at a special sitting of the Oireachtas committee on defence and national security

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

30 years of Women in the Irish army
Defence Forces risks 'not serving public interest' and wasting taxpayer's money
Way abuse is defined is one of the main issues concerning survivors of Defence Forces mistreatment and other abuses

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Cyber warfare 'biggest threat' as Europe takes Ireland to court over terror law failures
Cyber warfare 'biggest threat' as Europe takes Ireland to court over terror law failures
It comes as the European Commission announced it was taking Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with EU laws on removing online terrorist content

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Government signs new sonar contract to enhance maritime security
Government signs new sonar contract to enhance maritime security
The sonar, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be used for monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, enhancing maritime security

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'
Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'
Human rights lawyer warns that if Ireland takes part in OSCE or EU missions without a UN mandate, it could lead to unforeseen breaches our neutrality

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Long-neglected Naval Service strength 'starts to creep up'
Long-neglected Naval Service strength 'starts to creep up'
The Naval Service is currently over 1,000 personnel short of the target under the Government’s plan, which has five years to run

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Tánaiste to seek Cabinet approval on bonus scheme to keep specialists in air corps
Tánaiste to seek Cabinet approval on bonus scheme to keep specialists in air corps
It comes amid reports that Irish military flight operations at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel are to move to part-time hours, and may soon have to cease entirely due to severe staff shortages

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Charity offers counselling to Irish soldiers who have endured the ‘horror’ of war in Ukraine
Charity offers counselling to Irish soldiers who have endured the ‘horror’ of war in Ukraine
Former Irish Defence Forces personnel are receiving counselling for PTSD from the Organisation for National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE)

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Cadet commissioning ceremony
Simon Harris was lobbied by arms industry, FoI records show
The Irish Defence and Security Association, whose members include Lockheed Martin, lobbied for development of Ireland's 'defence industry strategy'

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Crews 'expendable' in massive cocaine smuggling operation, court hears
A retired Ukrainian fisherman was told he would earn €5k but claimed he did not know it was a drug-trafficking plot for a major organised crime group

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
MV Matthew crew 'terrified' amid chaos of cocaine trafficking operation, court hears
Special Criminal Court hears of activity on board the ship in the hours before Irish Army Rangers stormed it, bringing the criminal operation to a sudden and dramatic end

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

30 years of Women in the Irish army
Defence Forces abuse survivors want 'abuse of rank and power' included in tribunal terms
Review noted 80% of harassment of male and female personnel was perpetrated by one or more members of a higher rank to the victim

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Private Sean Rooney inquest
Mother of slain Irish soldier Sean Rooney permitted to sue United Nations
Natasha Rooney has been granted leave to serve proceedings on the UN over her son’s 2022 killing in Lebanon

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Irish peacekeepers ‘safe and well’ after shots fired close to patrol in Lebanon
Irish peacekeepers ‘safe and well’ after shots fired close to patrol in Lebanon
The Irish Defence Forces said they have received reports that a number of shots were fired in the area of a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line

Thu, 29 May, 2025

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Mick Clifford
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