Ireland’s defence spending slammed as ‘bad joke’ amid Nato push for 3.5% GDP target

'With our naval service unable to put to sea, our air corps grounded after dark, and huge difficulties in staffing overseas, not to mention our technician strengths below 50% in most areas, which capabilities are we delivering on fully? And at what cost?' 

Ireland’s continuing low level of defence expenditure — stuck at 0.2% of GDP — has been described as a “bad joke” just a day after EU partners in Nato agreed to boost their target spend from 2% to 3.5% of GDP.

The development comes as Tánaiste Simon Harris, minister for foreign affairs and defence, is on Friday expected to announce plans to join the EU’s new security procurement mechanism to accelerate the acquisition of defence equipment.