Defence spending: Ireland must take security risks seriously 

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of military expenditure and capability of any advanced economy — and our position at the edge of Europe is no longer a guarantee of safety

The British Royal Navy's HMS Somerset flanking Russian ship Yantar near UK waters. For Ireland, being at the far end of Europe can no longer insulate the country from Russian interference. File photo

Today, Ireland’s capacity to defend itself is under greater scrutiny than at any stage in the country’s history. 

Security conversations are being had in countries all across Europe in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Each European state has its own economic, geographical, and political context, with the perception of the threat posed by Russian aggression understandably higher the closer you get to Ukraine.