Delighted that all the troops are arriving safely home from Syria today. Irish soldiers have served the country proud in Syria over the last 12 years, but today is definitely tinged with sadness. We’ve never had to leave a mission due to lack of staff before. Over the last 12 years, there’s been over a 30% ...
Irelands’s Atlantic Coast is now ground zero for smuggling narcotics into Europe, primarily due to the precarious state of our Navy. There is no substitute for fully crewed hulls on the water providing a visible maritime presence to deter & disrupt smugglers. Internationally, Ireland’s much vaunted ‘Wild ...
Great to see the new Cadet School HQ in the Curragh nearly completed. A €4.3m refurbishment. Much more desperately needed. Hopefully, the instructor staff can soon move out of the shipping containers on the parade square & into this new facility. Well done to all involved.
I was delighted to welcome Defence Forces veterans groups today. It was particularly satisfying to host former soldiers who once guarded the Leinster House campus in years gone by.
Glad to contribute to the Dáil debate on the findings of the Independent Review Group’s report about conduct and misconduct in the Irish Defence Forces. It was also good to welcome the Women of Honour group and veterans from Kildare to hear the debate. I welcome the publication of this report and its ...
Radio interview on RTÉ’s Late Debate this week. I spoke about the factors forcing people to leave the Defence Forces and the urgent need for a full-time, stand-alone Minister for Defence. Listen to the full interview here https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22204122/
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.
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 ...
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.
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…
