Huge thanks to the Irish Air Corps for facilitating the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee’s visit to Baldonnel. Superb, but sobering briefings. Candour very much appreciated. Ireland’s lack of air capability is a major national strategic risk. We need to fix this.
Statement on the 2023 Defence Budget Notwithstanding the wording of yesterday’s budget document, senior Government Ministers have since clarified that the stated €67m (6%) increase in the 2023 Defence budget does not include an allocation for the National Pay Deal “Building Momentum” currently being balloted on ...
Good to speak to Bryan Dobson on RTÉ Radio One recently about the lack of independent airlift capability in Ireland. This time last year, Irish troops had to hitchhike with other European armies to evacuate Irish citizens from Kabul. Also, during the pandemic, Ireland had no means to transport its own citizens or ...
Good to speak to Clem Ryan on KFM today in relation to the recent announcement of a planned increase in investment in the Defence Forces. To listen back to the radio interview, click here.
Not a single soldier, sailor or flight crew in the Defence Forces has received the €1,000 pandemic bonus yet. I highlighted this with Minister McGrath in the Dáil this week so that it can be paid to members of the Defence Forces as soon as possible. Click here to watch Cathal Berry TD's parliamentary contribution.
‘Ireland is hugely vulnerable and exposed’ - Radio interview this morning on Newstalk to discuss Irish defence capabilities and the significant lack of funding and resources available to our military. To listen back to the interview, click here.
This week, I spoke to the Taoiseach in the Dáil in relation to RACO and PDFORRA becoming affiliated with ICTU. This is essential to help improve pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces. To watch my parliamentary contribution, click here.
Fascinating panel discussions at the Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann ONE Veterans Charity veterans evening in Cathal Brugha Bks. Over 140,000 Defence Force veterans are currently out there. Ireland’s ultimate network…
Finland, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland are actual neutral countries whereas Ireland is simply defenceless. The RAF polices our skies, yet Oireachtas consent was neither sought nor received for this. Time for Ireland to clarify its “strategic ambiguity”. Dr Cathal Berry speaking on Sky News in ...
Radio interview with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One in relation to the current situation in Ukraine and the provision of anti-tank weapons. We must support Ukraine in every way we can. There is no guarantee Russian aggression will end at the Polish border. Listen to the full interview here.
I very much welcome the publication of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. It is a grim and accurate assessment of the situation in our armed forces because of decades of underinvestment by successive governments. I am very concerned that the Minister intends to wait “four or five months” to produce ...
The Irish Defence Forces have a serious lack of defence capability. We cannot protect our borders, patrol our own waters or police our skies. Not only can we not deter people from incurring, we can't even detect them from incurring. The Commission on Defence must address these serious capability shortages. ...
