Its a pitty other ministers do not have same idea to reduce cost of 3000 overpaid bankers salaries, they badly need some free training

I can see all your points here but let me just put it simply, I was in the PDF for 24 years, my roles were varied and yes those who think we are a standing army ready to protect Roisin dubh are right to be sceptical, we are not trained with the intent of protecting our lands from the modern day Viking, we’re are trained specifically to deal with problems that may arise in Ireland. The bin strikes etc that have needed the army are a secondary role. We are trained to deal with disasters that obviously are not everyday,week,month even yearly occurrences , I personally was a fully trained fighting soldier, with a highly skilled resumè… Armourer, artificer,fitter turner, driver, artic driver,basic medical skills, mowag maintenance, ammo,PTI, EOD, instructed on many career courses, 8 trips overseas, commendation in Liberia etc etc .. This may seem to you I am using this forum to show how wonderful I am but it’s not, I was lucky to get the best training as a young man that sculpted me into a half decent civvy and a decent human. I assure you if a natural disaster struck, if another aeroplane crashed, if trains collided with many casualties, if the prisons rioted, if gang warfare really got out of hand, if passenger ships sunk, it’s better to have us than not.

Have a wonderful day y’aaalllll

A bit of reality here folks. Our seas would be ravaged by the continental fishing fleet / our hill walkers & urgent medical assistance casualties would lose rapid helicopter support / our UN efforts would go wayside. The DF (whether reserve or not) are one of the things we get right in this country. They are not just there for stepping in when binmen go on strike or for weaher response. The CD are there for emergency back up to the population, the DF are there for a lot more vital roles than that.

My god the stupidity of not needing an army argument is ridiculous. You all should be ashamed of be littling the defence forces god knows why they would want to protect your ass. There is more to the defence forces than just fighting wars .They do humanitarian and disaster support and protect our border s and sea. The’re is a shit load more they do as well so cop yourselves on

You all say you don’t want defence forces but I’d like to see the looks on your faces when the vikings invade.

[I know they do a lot of good work, I was sceptical of them at one point on the "who the heck are they defending Ireland from?" grounds adn I do still wonder if some of their roles couldn't be moved into a civil rather than military sphere but frankly someone has to do what they do and I'm just generally glad that it ain't me.]

I have to say I’m disappointed to hear this, as a former member of the Naval reserve the reduction of funding by 50% seems severe. I understand and accept that efficiencies must be sought but to consider the reserve as only needed if there is a war or emergency is to undervalue the leadership, team skills, engineering and general sense of responsibility to name but a few skills that this force gives to its members in particular it’s younger members who are all volunteers.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/11/army-complete-international-sniper-competition-results-110812/

Most important point is as follows:

1. This is going to be a HUGE comment

2. Ireland is NOT neutral.

we are not a constitutionally neutral state., so stop saying we ARE!

We never have been, not EVEN during the “Emergency”

read the constitution and educate yourselves before spouting such silliness.

We do however have a foreign policy of non involvement, on a case by case basis, controlled under the states “triple lock” agreement.

However We are also a semi member of NATO under the PFP (Partnership For Peace) agreement and deployed as part of the EU battlegroups.

I hate when tree hugging hippies go on about this so called fallacy of “neutrality”.

In fact… if we WERE to have a referendum and become completely neutral, we would conversely have to INCREASE defence spending in order to be able to fully protect our own borders due to the complex nature of the legalities of constitutional neutrality and foreign relations. As it stands, we have an agreement (not much about it in the public domain) with the British Govt who maintain a Quick Reaction squadron in the south of England perfectly capable of intercepting aircraft in Irish air space should a request be sent by our own Govt as we have no jet powered intercept aircraft.

We need a defence force.

If for anything other than internal security / quelling public protests that turn violent, anti internal terrorism, EOD bomb disposal, protection of state assets, cash in transit, maximum security prison protection, prtection of our internal airspace from light aircraft, maritime patrol, inland search and rescue, protection of the largest owned sea area and arguably the most lucrative continental shelf as regards fossil fuel speculation in Europe, some external security capability and a more robust ability than the unarmed gardai in Aid To Civil Power role.

Its also oh so very easy to sit behind your PC and say sure the EU is at peace and there will be no war we could be involved in, yet its also very easy also to forget that its only 20 years since the last incidence of genocide and major war in Europe (yugoslavia) threatened to spill over into other countries and only 70 years since the entire continent was at war, Bombs were dropped on Dublin City (amongst other towns in ireland) and Irish vessels were sunk by belligerent forces in the atlantic.

Just because we find ourselves in a state of recession and financial ruin doesnt mean we should turn on ourselves and point the finger at something most of us dont understand.
People are starting to question what the DF does exactly, this is good in one sense, but in another its kindof sad, for many years we were on the pigs back and nobody gave a damn about the DF nor had any interest in what it did other than it was a kind of semi permanent dads army and laughable compared to the likes of France or the UK, this lack of interest and understanding over many years has alienated the DF from irish society.

Thats the way most irish people are, if something works and doesnt concern you then dont ask questions, however if things go bad (recession and financial woe), find something you dont understand and then point the finger at it and ask why not cut that – i dont understand it and it doesnt do me any favors. Well the army is arguably a very easy target.
Controlled by military law, unable to be represented by unions (only govt approved and toothless representative associations) they have to do exactly as they are told, whether its cuts to pay, movement to totally new locations resulting in the uprooting of families or forced retirements or being told to carry out a mission of any unfavorable sort, the Irish soldier will just put their head down, grumble and get on with it.

You wont find that in ANY other department or area of irish society be it a public service or private company. The Dept of Defence is in my opinion the most well run and monetarily efficient department in Ireland today. Its recognised internationally as a military department that can do a huge amount with very little and for almost no cost. Its recognised internationally as a very very credible force given its size and limited capabilities and also known for its expertise in many areas that are deemed very very important to foreign forces. Countries from all over the globe (including surprisingly the USA and UK) send their future instructors here to learn the best practices to some aspects of peace keeping, peace enforcement, anti IED training and bomb disposal.

Smaller countries send THEIR future officers here to train in the curragh with our cadets.

Its a force to be proud of as a nation and an example to hold up to OTHER departments as to what CAN be done and what SHOULD happen there – imagine if tomorrow that Price Waterhous Cooper rocked up to the Dept Of Health to draw up a whitepaper on health, ripped through its records and structure over the next few months, decided for example that we should completely restructure the dept from the ground up with the emphasis on patient care, response time, international best practices, 1st line staff, KPI’s, cut the Number of upper management, reallign salaries, working practices, rosters, investment in new equipment, consultancies, outpatient care, training, GP practices, development and research, realligning the whole structure, location and working of hospitals, air ambulance, clinics etc thereby saving billions for the tax payer and yet delivering a leaner stronger, modern, more fit for purpose health service and told them that they had 3 years to make it happen.

Now imagine that the workers there had NO option but to accept this and then make it happen – Now when you have finished laughing and wiped the tea you spat out, off the screen , think about this, thats EXACTLY what happened with the defence forces in 2000.

That wont happen ANYWHERE else in the public service because everyone EXCEPT those in the military, have a union to turn to who will rain down like fire and brimstone upon the govt, croke park agreements etc, should that happen.

There are other factors at work, but if we were to do this in each and every other dept in the public service we would save SO much cash that we would find our way out of this financial disaster we find ourselves in – a lot quicker.

True, it has its failings not unlike other areas in public and private enterprise but is by far a shining example and case study in maintaining maximum capability with minimum funding. It has some of the best individuals you will ever meet in Irish society and has helped to maintain IMPORTANT foreign relations on good terms with very important countries as well as carrying out vital international humanitarian and peace keeping work. It has single handidly sold Ireland as a great and peaceful nation to many countries who would otherwise know nothing or at least very little about this little island in the north west reaches of Europe and allowed us to punch above our weight in the international community. The truth is that the UN has so much work that it wants us to participate in yet with our limited size of force and funding we can only send a limited number of personnel abroad.

There is a reason for this demand and that is because the Irish Soldier is recognised as an honorable, trustworthy, respected individual that we as a nation, should all be proud of as an example of everything it means to be Irish.

Thanks for reading this, regardless of your opinion.

I think before people start trolling looking for the defence force to be abolished they should actually take time to understand the incredable role they play in Ireland and abroad. The Defence Force roles are : Defence against armed aggression. Aid to the Civil Power. Participation in Peace Support Operations.
Fishery Protection.
Other duties which may be assigned by Government.

Tasks are assigned to the?RDF?to support the PDF in fulfilling these roles. These include: Augmentation/reinforcement of the PDF.
Provision of logistic support. Provision of armed escorts. Augmentation of Naval Service on fishery protection patrols.
Staffing of Military Posts during periods of PDF deployment. Radiological Monitoring. Ceremonial Duties at national and local events.

They’ll miss them when the weather turns bad or if the unions begin to call strikes again ??

Not that he needs it but I can vouch for Dave and he’s even got a sense of humor as well. I think those that comment without a grasp or insight into the roles and responsibilities of the Irish Defence Forces are selling themselves and the IDF short. I don’t think anyone is saying it’s all ok but what Dave and others appear to be saying is beware the “slash and burn” policies with regard to the IDF, & indeed IMO every state or semi state body should look over their shoulder at this governments tactics.

Our enemies will attack as soon as they get rid of these reserve lads, we’re doomed!!

In the UK there are former British Army officers arguing for the opposite. One of them, a recent commanding officer of 22 SAS Regiment, have made a case that the UK’s military should rely more on reserves and substantial functions of the current regular army could transferred to the reserves. The US has almost 50% of its military comprising of reserve units and Israel as much as 75%. A reserve soldier can cost as little as 20% of his full time counterpart.

An Irish Defence Forces Sniper Team from the Army Ranger Wing came second in the prestigious International United States Sniper Competition held in Fort Benning, Atlanta, Georgia earlier this month.

This is the second year in a row that the Irish Team have come second and they were only defeated by the Olympic Gold Medal Winning US Marksmanship Team.

The competition sees the world’s premier sniper teams from across the globe compete in four days of intense competition. This year no less than 36 two-man teams competed in the event.
Representation included teams from all the U.S Military Corps, Air Force, Marines and Special Forces, with military teams from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates also present.

Competition Scenarios are as realistic as can be, reflecting environments that snipers may and indeed have encountered whilst serving in theatres of conflict around the world.

Events often see competitors having to move through buildings in an environment of smoke and noise firing from windows, doors, even rooftops, constantly scanning the event area for their next target.

Well done to all involved with the Irish Defence Forces Team, see here for more info on the competition. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/11/army-complete-international-sniper-competition-results-110812/

Those orange vests would be a significant disadvantage on the battle field. As ever the government has failed to think things through.

Realistically, we don’t even need an army. Cut the lot.

Agree completely. Having an army in Ireland serves no purpose at all. Probably time to disband.

No need at all for this reserve force another Quango Scrap the lot

the Nike hat says it all really….. organised, disciplined, well equipped for the inevitable invasion of them godless heathens that are the Russians….. or worse still a military coup led by FCA sargent bilko or his Irish equivalent….. 22million too much….

what about the sky falling on your heads?????

A Garda Unit could be trained to defuse bombs. The army is not needed in this country. Its a waste of money.

@Alan wake up.

is there not a acronym for that as well????

Costa Rica hasn’t had an army since 1948. They have “small forces capable of law enforcement and foreign peacekeeping”. Sounds better value to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Costa_Rica

We don’t need these modern-day Black and Tans.

so apart from the cuts to RDF.

what does the RDF do exactly ??