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Defence Forces

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Ministerial Review of the Lebanon Bound 42nd Infantry Group in Dublin
Further delay in Defence Forces plan criticised
Implementation plan, due last January, now 'expected' after Dáil resumes

Mon, 28 Aug, 2023

Irish Examiner View: Our naval crisis likely to worsen
Irish Examiner View: Our naval crisis likely to worsen
Only 15 people completed their naval training last year, which is not nearly enough to fill the gap left by the departure of hundreds of personnel.

Fri, 25 Aug, 2023

South American cartels will 'exploit' cuts to Irish naval service, expert warns
South American cartels will 'exploit' cuts to Irish naval service, expert warns
The former head of MAOC-N, the EU frontline agency tasked with combating the Atlantic cocaine trade, said the EU "depends" on the Irish navy in the North Atlantic.

Fri, 25 Aug, 2023

Sean O’Riordan: What will the Working Time Directive mean for the Defence Forces?
Sean O’Riordan: What will the Working Time Directive mean for the Defence Forces?
Hopes that the directive will be introduced soon, but fears that the State will water down its benefits

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

'Young Offenders' actor among families to welcome home naval crew
'Young Offenders' actor among families to welcome home naval crew
Thunderous applause rang out for the nearly 60 men and women as they returned from their mission in the Mediterranean as part of the EU's Operation Irini.

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Defence Forces inquiry
Women of Honour: Talks on Defence Forces inquiry terms of reference continue
The Women of Honour group said the Tánaiste will not be including terms of reference when he brings the inquiry to Cabinet 'unless they have been approved by us'

Fri, 07 Jul, 2023

British troops in Basra
Inquiry into Defence Forces abuse allegations set to be carried out in public
Micheál Martin said the investigation should take the form of a tribunal of inquiry with public hearings, rather than a behind-closed-doors commission of inquiry

Thu, 06 Jul, 2023

Women of Honour group
Women of Honour appeal to Tánaiste not to proceed with 'flawed' inquiry 
The decision to hold the inquiry followed the publication in March of a review into allegations of brutal and 'sadistic' abuse — including the rape of both male and female soldiers

Thu, 06 Jul, 2023

18/3/2010. Army Rangers Exercises
Army Ranger Wing wins prolonged battle for better allowances
“PDForra is hopeful that the arrears recommended and the increase in the allowance will be paid shortly,” said PDForra general secretary Gerard Guinan.

Sun, 02 Jul, 2023

Net being cast globally for specialist to keep Irish naval ships at sea
Net being cast globally for specialist to keep Irish naval ships at sea
“It's somewhat ironic that in recent years some of our ERAs and EAs left the navy to go join the cruise line industry,” said PDForra president Mark Keane.

Sat, 01 Jul, 2023

Micheál Martin on the forum on our future: ‘We must deal with the world as it now is’
Micheál Martin on the forum on our future: ‘We must deal with the world as it now is’
Ireland needs to understand and respond to the security threats that abound in the new global reality, writes Tánaiste Micheál Martin

Sun, 18 Jun, 2023

Spike in complaints by Defence Forces members to Ombudsman
Spike in complaints by Defence Forces members to Ombudsman
Most of the complaints relate to promotion competitions, the Ombudsman noted

Sat, 17 Jun, 2023

New Navy Ships Arrive from New Zealand in Cork Ireland
New naval vessels to be put to sea next year, if there are enough crew members
The Irish Examiner understands the effective strength of the navy is now less than 700, whereas it’s meant to be a minimum of 1,094.

Thu, 15 Jun, 2023

‘Psychometric test’ is turning people off joining Defence Forces
‘Psychometric test’ is turning people off joining Defence Forces
A former officer and member of the Oireachtas Committee for Foreign Affairs says a test given to potential military recruits should be scrapped as it's turning off many young people joining the Defence Forces.

Tue, 06 Jun, 2023

Women of Honour urge victims of abuse in Defence Forces to report it
Women of Honour urge victims of abuse in Defence Forces to report it
“We would like to recognise the strength and bravery of all of those who have come forward," the Women of Honour group stated.

Thu, 01 Jun, 2023

Five men facing execution for killing of Private Seán Rooney
Five men facing execution for killing of Private Seán Rooney
According to local reports, a military court that charged the men claims they were part of a Hezbollah-led militia

Thu, 01 Jun, 2023

Ireland to consider joining EU/Nato-led mission to protect undersea cable
Ireland to consider joining EU/Nato-led mission to protect undersea cable
The Taoiseach said he was limited in what he could say in terms of national security

Thu, 01 Jun, 2023

Ireland 'can no longer' rely on island status for security as neutrality review announced
Ireland 'can no longer' rely on island status for security as neutrality review announced
Undersea cables, cyber-hacks, and 'highly globalised' economy all make Ireland 2023 more vulnerable, Tánaiste will say

Thu, 18 May, 2023

NEW NAVY PATROL BOATS ARRIVE IN CORK, IRELAND
€26m navy ships from New Zealand arrive in Cork Harbour
A €26m pair of navy ships bought from New Zealand have finally arrived in Ireland more than a month after setting sail from Oceania.

Sun, 14 May, 2023

1/4/2018. 1916 Easter Rising Commemorations
Pay and recruitment/retention crisis to dominate PDForra conference
'Groundhog day' for delegates attending the conference as, for more than a decade, they have predicted a meltdown in Defence Forces numbers due to poor pay and conditions

Tue, 09 May, 2023

Retired naval officer who revealed 'Raj' mentality in parts of Defence Forces speaks out 
Retired naval officer who revealed 'Raj' mentality in parts of Defence Forces speaks out 
'If someone made a complaint it was viewed as though they were going against the grain and were disloyal to the military'

Sat, 06 May, 2023

CC WOMEN OF HONOUR
Women of Honour want Department of Defence off oversight board
The Women of Honour group also said they are "concerned that the Tánaiste cannot separate himself from the role of minister for defence".

Fri, 05 May, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Eamon Ryan should oppose Special Conservation Area plans
Letters to the Editor: Eamon Ryan should oppose Special Conservation Area plans
An 'Irish Examiner' reader suggests that proposals such as Galway County Council's plans concerning Lough Fingall SAC should be halted

Thu, 04 May, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Neutrality still requires fortified defences
Letters to the Editor: Neutrality still requires fortified defences
I had the privilege of being born in a military hospital, in the 1930s, at the Curragh Camp. My father served and I followed suit for about 32 years up to 1992.

Tue, 02 May, 2023

FILE PHOTO Today will see the publication of an independent report into allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the
Increasing levels of PTSD among female Defence Forces veterans, says charity
The Organisation for Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) has said it is bracing itself for more women needing its services in the coming years.

Mon, 01 May, 2023

Letters to the editor: Disloyalty of defence minister to staff of Defence Forces
Letters to the editor: Disloyalty of defence minister to staff of Defence Forces
In recent days Micheál Martin has been quoted as saying: “The Defence Forces should admit their failures and learn from them.

Sat, 29 Apr, 2023

A first plane evacuating French diplomats, European nationals and other countries has just landed in Djibouti, a country in the
Irish doctor tells of 'nightmare' awaiting news on father's evacuation from Sudan
Dr Aia Mohammed's father, who is an obstetrician in Castlebar, had been visiting family for Ramadan and had been due to fly home on Saturday evening, but as the conflict escalated and the airport was bombed, he was left trapped in Sudan

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

50 Irish citizens evacuated from Sudan by Spanish and French governments
50 Irish citizens evacuated from Sudan by Spanish and French governments
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin warned it could take a number of days before the 100 or so Irish nationals still in the county can be safely evacuated

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

Defence Forces to be deployed to Sudan for evacuation of Irish citizens
Defence Forces to be deployed to Sudan for evacuation of Irish citizens
Up to 12 members of the Defence Forces will travel to Sudan to assist in the evacuation of over 150 Irish citizens. The decision comes after an incorporeal Cabinet meeting was convened on Sunday as the situation continues to deteriorate in Sudan.

Sun, 23 Apr, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Government could not care less about defence
Letters to the Editor: Government could not care less about defence
I retired in 1989, and I am thoroughly ashamed of Defence Force members who abused fellow male and female colleagues.

Sat, 22 Apr, 2023

Centenary Ceremony of the Military Handover of Baldonnel Aerodrome
Air corps staff three times more likely to complain to Ombudsman
The air corps has had a consistently above-average score on the maladministration front for much of the past 15 years.

Thu, 20 Apr, 2023

Watch: Two New Zealand warships loaded onto cargo vessel for journey to Ireland
Watch: Two New Zealand warships loaded onto cargo vessel for journey to Ireland
The two vessels, which were bought at a cost of €26m in 2022, are expected to enter service early next year

Fri, 07 Apr, 2023

Resource-hit Defence Forces has spent €1.25m on recruitment in two years
Resource-hit Defence Forces has spent €1.25m on recruitment in two years
The Defence Forces has spent almost €1. 25 million on recruitment advertising over the past two years, trying to drum up interest among new recruits.

Thu, 06 Apr, 2023

'Who is going to mind our backyard when this navy ship is away?'
'Who is going to mind our backyard when this navy ship is away?'
Independent senator Gerard Craughwell said the plan to send the LÉ William Butler Yeats to Libya despite the staff shortages is "another example of Ireland trying to big itself up in the eyes of the UN".

Thu, 06 Apr, 2023

Lack of able seamen has resulted in entire naval fleet being tied up
Lack of able seamen has resulted in entire naval fleet being tied up
One Defence Forces source said: 'The two Ks must be laughing at us, that’s the Kremlin and the Kinahans.'

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Tánaiste: Navy can staff three of its ships despite recruitment crisis 
Tánaiste: Navy can staff three of its ships despite recruitment crisis 
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has claimed the navy has the capacity to staff three out of four ships but admitted the situation is “critical” in terms of recruitment and retention.

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Women of Honour group not informed of garda plans to pursue 'predators' in the Defence Forces
Women of Honour group not informed of garda plans to pursue 'predators' in the Defence Forces
Gardaí are already investigating reports of sexual assault in the Defence Forces dating back as far as the 1960s Drew Harris has said

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Gardaí 'stand ready' to pursue 'predators' within the Defence Forces 
Gardaí 'stand ready' to pursue 'predators' within the Defence Forces 
A national operation has been set up to receive complaints from serving or retired Defence Force members of rape and sexual assault

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Report left chief of staff feeling ‘ashamed’
Report left chief of staff feeling ‘ashamed’
Lieutenant General Sean Clancy commended the Women of Honour group for 'speaking truth to power' in terms of the allegations they had brought to light which led to the review

Wed, 29 Mar, 2023

FILE PHOTO Today will see the publication of an independent report into allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the
Michelle Dunne: The Defence Forces is in crisis: It's time to pull out the weeds
The Women of Honour have shown remarkable courage in speaking out — but the Defence Forces must act now and stop resisting change

Wed, 29 Mar, 2023

Hard-hitting review shows Defence Forces is unsafe working environment
Hard-hitting review shows Defence Forces is unsafe working environment
Noeline Blackwell, CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, said many people were afraid to report what was happening to them for fear of reprisal

Wed, 29 Mar, 2023

Government must stop being 'penny-wise pound foolish' and invest in navy 
Government must stop being 'penny-wise pound foolish' and invest in navy 
There is a real cost to the country of not having a properly resourced naval service

Sun, 12 Mar, 2023

Defence Forces 'will never recover' without Working Time Directive, says RACO chief
Defence Forces 'will never recover' without Working Time Directive, says RACO chief
Lieutenant Colonel Conor King said the Defence Forces still does not even record the working time of its personnel

Wed, 08 Mar, 2023

Ireland to withdraw from UN peacekeeping mission in Golan Heights
Ireland to withdraw from UN peacekeeping mission in Golan Heights
'The decision will ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup'

Wed, 08 Mar, 2023

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