#Defence Forces

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Ireland to spend €1.7bn on defence equipment in four years
Ireland to spend €1.7bn on defence equipment in four years
Increased budget to buy a range of items from radar and sonar systems to aircraft and combat vehicles

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Ireland will beef up drone defences ahead of assuming EU presidency
Ireland will beef up drone defences ahead of assuming EU presidency
Move comes in the wake of reports of objects in the skies near the flight path of the plane carrying Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his recent Dublin visit

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visit to Ireland
Government pledges €300m for defence and anti-drone technology after Zelenskyy visit
Government ramps up defence spending, including €15m for anti-drone systems, after drones were detected near Zelenskyy’s flight

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

SPAIN-CRIME-DRUGS
'We must match drone and robot tech that criminals and terrorists are using' – Europol
Police forces, including An Garda Síochána, must adapt to fight technology-enabled crime amid the surge of illegal use of drones and robots, according to EU law enforcement agency

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Retiring Irish navy chief warns of Cold War-level global threat
Retiring Irish navy chief warns of Cold War-level global threat
Commodore Michael Malone spoke to the 'Irish Examiner' about geopolitical threats — and memories of his 44 years of service including the navy's response to the 1985 Air India disaster 

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon
Irish peacekeepers safe after coming under fire in Lebanon
Irish UNIFIL troops escaped injury after coming under small-arms fire near Bint Jbeil, prompting condemnation from defence minister Helen McEntee

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

hacker
Defence Forces take part in world’s biggest cyber exercise
Nato-led operation included simulated cyberattacks on Ireland’s critical national infrastructure

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Defence Forces return home
Tears of joy and singing greet Irish peacekeepers returning from Lebanon
More than 300 Irish troops have spent the last six months serving with the UN in southern Lebanon during a tense period for the Middle East

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Defence gaps mean sabotage of gas energy supply could be 'crippling' for Ireland
Defence gaps mean sabotage of gas energy supply could be 'crippling' for Ireland
'Ireland needs military assets — sensors, drones, naval patrol ships, and patrol aircraft — and clear and coordinated leadership'

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Pre-Deployment Mission Readiness Exercise, 127th Infantry Battalion,
Dorcha Lee: What the end of Unifil means for Lebanon and for Ireland's Defence Forces
As the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon prepares to wind down, Dorcha Lee examines the prospects for the region — and what the 49-year mission has meant for our Defence Forces

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Retired soldier loses appeal after claiming concussion led to sexual assault on colleagues
Retired soldier loses appeal after claiming concussion led to sexual assault on colleagues
Richard Muldarry was convicted of a number of offences following a Court Martial hearing in April 2024

Fri, 07 Nov, 2025

Shoulder patch of a soldier from the Irish Army on camouflaged uniform.
Former army captain who sexually assaulted female soldier loses appeal against dismissal
Ross O'Shea claimed a sexual assault on a female solider was an 'aberration' in an otherwise 'glittering career'

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Uisce Éireann to take over wastewater facilities from developers in minister's plan
Uisce Éireann to take over wastewater facilities from developers in minister's plan
Housing minister James Browne has said that he is determined to 'unlock problematic water services infrastructure that is constraining the delivery of homes people need built'

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Ireland not using soft EU defence loan fund as markets 'cheaper'
Ireland not using soft EU defence loan fund as markets 'cheaper'
Independent senator said it was 'outrageous; Ireland was not availing of the scheme

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Shoulder patch of a soldier from the Irish Army on camouflaged uniform.
Retired Defence Forces members challenge pension cuts after rejoining public service
The Retired Enlisted Members’ Association says pension abatement rules unfairly penalise former Defence Forces personnel rejoining the public service

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Irish navy patrols set to increase after years of depleted activity
Irish navy patrols set to increase after years of depleted activity
The Naval Service will carry around 520 patrols this year

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Defence Forces charity launches €3.5m housing expansion to support homeless veterans
Defence Forces charity launches €3.5m housing expansion to support homeless veterans
The Defence Forces veterans’ charity aims to raise €500,000 for a major expansion of housing and support services nationwide

Sat, 18 Oct, 2025

‘Ireland is awash with cocaine — we’re losing the battle,’ warns former Navy commander
‘Ireland is awash with cocaine — we’re losing the battle,’ warns former Navy commander
Revenue’s new €9m Customs cutter will patrol Ireland’s southern coast, but experts warn the country is still 'losing the battle' against smugglers

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Mercury spill forces closure of Air Corps hangar at Baldonnel airbase
Mercury spill forces closure of Air Corps hangar at Baldonnel airbase
A small mercury spill inside a Baldonnel hangar prompted an immediate safety lockdown and investigation by the Defence Forces

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Half of Naval Service officer cadets leave before completing training, conference told
Half of Naval Service officer cadets leave before completing training, conference told
Exodus of cadets a 'huge issue' that 'needs to be rectified immediately', officers' conference  told

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Officers' association believes target of 11,500 in Defence Forces is 'major challenge'
Officers' association believes target of 11,500 in Defence Forces is 'major challenge'
RACO called for better cadets pay, better pension arrangements and a review of specialist pay and training establishments

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'
Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'
This was a budget more focused on business, and the need to ensure that the economy is equipped for any approaching storm rather than alleviating the worst ravages of poverty, writes Mick Clifford

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Denmark Drones
The EU is preparing for war – is Ireland?
With a marine territory 10 times our landmass, and which includes much of the northern hemisphere’s critical subsea cables, Ireland's defence capabilities should be built around maritime capacity, writes Edward Burke 

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon
Irish peacekeepers 'safe and accounted for' as Israel drops grenades near Unifil troops in Lebanon 
Unifil said peacekeepers at two different locations heard grenades explode near an excavator around 500m away from them at 11.30am on Thursday

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Denmark Airport
Ireland will collaborate with other EU states on security amid concern over Russia
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it made sense for Ireland to work with EU states that have expertise in drones, protection of undersea cables, and cyberattacks

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Naval Service recruitment set to rise 65% on last year 
Naval Service recruitment set to rise 65% on last year 
A total of 84 recruits have been inducted by the end of August, with almost a similar number scheduled to join before the end of the year

Sun, 28 Sep, 2025

Irish navy returns five turtles to warmer waters after they washed up on west coast
Irish navy returns five turtles to warmer waters after they washed up on west coast
The turtles — Cleo, Mara, Tony, Knesaii, and Columbus — were carried aboard the LÉ Samuel Beckett in boxes marked with their names during a short quayside ceremony.

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Retired army officer on effects of criminal investigation
The Mick Clifford Podcast: Retired army officer on effects of criminal investigation
Alan Kearney was a captain in the Irish Defence Forces in 2021, due to be promoted to commandant, when he was removed from his duties and investigated for suspected criminal offences

 Listen | Thu, 25 Sep, 2025

 Listen |
Reserve Defence Force
Military reserves warn funding cuts risk collapse of force as Cork TDs press for answers
RDFRA leaders told the Oireachtas that underfunding, unpaid duties, and shrinking numbers threaten the sustainability of Ireland’s reserve forces

Thu, 25 Sep, 2025

Rise in defence funding 'must be maintained' for Ireland's security and reputation
Rise in defence funding 'must be maintained' for Ireland's security and reputation
The 2025–2028 strategy stresses sustained funding, rising personnel needs, and long-delayed security plans as Ireland faces growing global threats

Thu, 25 Sep, 2025

Former Defence Forces chief urges Ireland to hire repair ship to protect subsea cables
Former Defence Forces chief urges Ireland to hire repair ship to protect subsea cables
Ex-Defence Forces chief Mark Mellett says Ireland needs a repair vessel, alert systems, and stronger laws to protect vital subsea cables

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

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

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