Defence Forces
After 100 years, the Defence Forces will finally be allowed manage its own affairs
Unlike many other countries, the Chief of Staff is entirely bypassed under the Irish military’s command and control structure
Inside Ireland’s government nuclear fallout shelter: ‘It’s more a basement than a bunker’
A ‘secret’ facility in Athlone was designated the national control centre during the cold war. We visit with a group of artists
Defence Forces’ intelligence bureau audits soldiers’ bank accounts for any links to private military contracting
Army’s secretive J2 intelligence bureau conducts surveillance on and interviews with those suspected of recruiting for private work
Former Irish special forces soldiers resume training for rogue Libyan general despite warnings
Irish Training Solutions instructors training troops in Libya in apparent breach of international sanctions
If the worst happens, who would come to Ireland’s defence? We are acutely vulnerable to threat
The Irish State now has fewer than 10,000 trained military members that it could call up in the event of an emergency
Former soldier found guilty of sexual assaults and assault in court martial
Court hears man twice put his hand on leg of woman colleague, which was ‘inherently indecent’
Ireland seeking to abandon ‘triple lock’ restriction on troop deployment
‘Absurd that Russia would effectively have veto’ on Irish peacekeeping deployments, Taoiseach says
Deliberations expected to begin on Thursday in court martial of former soldier for alleged sexual assaults
Accused man faces a number of charges for assaults alleged to have occurred at a military base in 2021
Micheál Martin warns ex-Defence Forces members against Wagner-style contracting
Tánaiste refuses to be drawn on whether he was warned by Defence Forces chief of staff about Libya training allegations before Irish Times broke news
Soldier accused of sexual offences entitled to insanity verdict due to concussion, court martial hears
Defence barrister insists client suffered concussion immediately before alleged sex crimes
Soldier denied further appeal over conviction for ‘punishment beating’ of recruit
Pte Philip McCarthy was convicted after pleading not guilty at court-martial to 12 charges relating to 2021 incident at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, in which he assaulted Pte Jack Canty
Intensive care hospital beds increased 30% in four years, report finds
Relative lack of ICU beds in hospitals became an issue during the height of the Covid pandemic
Soldier accused of sexually abusing colleagues more likely under influence of alcohol than concussion, doctor tells court
Limited court martial hears defandant received a blow to the head immediately before alleged sexual assault
Two members of Defence Forces hospitalised after parachuting incident
Display team members suffered injuries on landing during routine practice at training centre in Co Kildare
Former Defence Forces member charged with sex assaults on two soldiers at military base
Unidentified man denies all charges at court martial being heard at McKee Barracks
Head of Defence Forces to be promoted to four-star general rank if successful in bid for EU post
The Government will appoint Lieut Gen Seán Clancy as a four-star general should he prove successful as Ireland’s candidate for the post of European Union Military Committee chair.
Blurred military lines: When Defence Forces soldiers cross over into the world of private contractors
Some Irish soldiers - often looking for more pay - have worked in private security in overseas countries while on leave
‘Syria is a beautiful country. We’ll miss that’: Tears and hugs as final Irish contingent returns from the Golan
Withdrawal ‘deeply regrettable’, says Sinn Féin as it represents failure of successive governments to properly invest in Defence Forces
Government must dramatically increase defence spending and appoint dedicated minister, says Flanagan
Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Defence believes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was ‘Europe’s 9/11′
Naval Service’s two inshore patrol vessels named LÉ Aoibhinn and the LÉ Gobnait
Decision to name ships after mythological figures runs counter to proposal to name them after Irish female leaders
Final Defence Forces mission to Golan Heights returns to Ireland today
133 soldiers will arrive in Dublin Airport this afternoon after six months on Israel-Syria border
Naval Service missed 31 scheduled patrol days in past year because of lack of staff
Tánaiste insists other countries experiencing same recruitment difficulties
Libyan troops being trained by Irish firm a headache for Government and Garda
For Irish Government officials, the first step was determining under whose remit the controversy falls
Rogue general in Libya serviced by several western companies in apparent breach of UN embargo
Investigation into Irishmen training forces of rogue general reveals wider apparent violations of UN arms embargo covering north African country
Serving soldier investigated on suspicion of using leave to train troops in Libya last year
Soldier interviewed by Defence Forces police for training troops in Libya but evidence insufficient to bring charges under military law
Activity of former Defence Forces members in Libya referred to Garda
Tánaiste Micheál Martin says revelations are ‘deeply shocking’
Training of rogue Libyan forces by ex-Irish soldiers ‘deeply shocking’, Tánaiste says
Department of Enterprise to investigate alleged breaches of UN and EU sanctions after Irish Times investigation found Irish company trained forces of Russian-backed general Khalifa Haftar
Facebook photos and pub talk led Defence Forces to investigate Libya training
Former and departing soldiers provided training for warlord Khalifa Haftar. Senior officers feared reputational damage
The Irish soldiers who trained a rogue general’s army in Libya
They provided services to strongman Khalifa Haftar in an apparent breach of a UN arms embargo
Who is Khalifa Haftar and what is the UN arms embargo on Libya?
The aspiring strongman and rogue general is a challenger to the UN-recognised Libyan government in Tripoli
Defence Forces officers’ body accuses department of abusing position with proposed legislation
Raco says move to prohibit specific officers from being members of union will breach fundamental rights
Defence Forces still struggling to convince troops to volunteer for Battlegroup duty
Department of Defence has agreed to pay some allowances but frustrations continue
UN military observers and Lebanese interpreter injured in shell blast while on border patrol
Irish Defence Forces provided medical assistance to casualties as Israeli military denies striking area
A Very Hard Struggle. Lives in the Military Service Pensions Collection – a window on the harshness of Irish life
Contributors take different approaches to tough topics such as gender experience, family histories, language, youth, poverty, illness and crime, while positive outcomes also shine through
Public pay increases: When will they happen and how much will workers get?
Pay deal agreed between the Government and unions last month has been formally ratified by the union side
TD calls for end to Army security provision for paramilitary prisoners
Soldiers provide 24-hour security at State’s highest security prison in Portlaoise, which cost approximately €1.9m in 2023
Ireland’s only arms contract with Israel is €295,000 a year for drone maintenance - Martin
SF TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh says State should never have purchased equipment from Israel
Gardaí investigate alleged sexual assault at Defence Forces barracks
Woman alleged she was attacked after socialising with Defence Forces member over St Patrick’s bank holiday weekend
Defence Forces generals want Garda salaries
Generals argue the pay of the Defence Forces chief of staff is 72 per cent of the salary of the Garda Commissioner
More than 1,500 Defence Forces personnel bought their way out of service since 2019
Recruitment and retention crisis continues
Lack of medical screenings creating ‘bottleneck’ for revitalising Reserve Defence Forces
The Reserves number just 1,411 personnel or one-third of its intended strength, and many applicants ‘drift away’ due to long wait for screenings
Naval Service’s sole active ship unavailable for Cork drugs search due to St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Sole active ship the LÉ George Bernard Shaw was on its way to Dún Laoghaire to take part in St Patrick’s festival at time of search near Skibbereen
Ireland’s lack of focus on maritime security encapsulated by two events 400km apart
As the crew of the LÉ George Bernard Shaw marched in a Patrick’s Day parade, the search for a huge cocaine shipment continued in Cork
New navy ships to be named after ‘important female leaders’ in response to misogyny allegations
Other measures against discrimination include mandatory sexual ethics workshops for all personnel and the appointment of ‘sexual ethics and respectful relationship advisers’
Irish military aircraft set to help get aid into Gaza
Republic of Ireland marshalling significant quantities of emergency humanitarian supplies for relief missions to war-torn area
Senior military officer being investigated over alleged inappropriate behaviour
The officer has denied the behaviour, which allegedly occurred overseas some time ago
Mandatory retirement ages for gardaí and prison officers to be raised
Change will ‘help us to retain skills, knowledge and expertise’ needed, Helen McEntee says
Irish troops prepare for biggest logistical challenge in 10 years as they withdraw from Syria
About 280,000 pieces of equipment, worth close to €23m, to be shipped home by sea
Irish troops in the Valley of Tears: Peacekeepers caught up in rising tensions on Israel-Syria border
The Israel-Hamas conflict has had a significant impact on the Undof mission in the Golan, which involves more than 130 Defence Forces personnel
‘The ship is turning. I have never been more optimistic than I am today,’ says second most senior Defence Forces officer
Defence Forces personnel chief and second most senior officer Major General Adrian Ó Murchú travels to the Golan to rally the troops and promise better times ahead
Robust complaints procedure central to Defence Forces’ cultural change, committee told
Prof Brian MacCraith says the country’s most senior officer had acknowledged there was a widespread lack of faith in the existing complaints system within the Defence Forces
Senior Irish officers seeing increased tensions along Israel-Syria border since start of Gaza assault
About 130 Defence Forces soldiers stationed along border, in the Golan area, as part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (Undof)
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