IRELAND SHOULD LOOK to recruit new Defence Forces members from abroad, a TD suggested in the Dáil today.

Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare South Seán Ó Fearghaíl brought up the recruitment issues facing all branches of the defence forces during Leaders Questions, saying he was “profoundly concerned” by the low strength of force numbers. 

The number of people serving in the Defence Forces has been in decline for years and dropped below 7,500 in 2024. 

According to a report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, the number should be 11,500. 

There was, however, a small increase of 200 full-time members in the overall force last year, but Ó Fearghaíl said the numbers are still “too low”.

In addition to recruitment difficulties, the Defence Forces also have a major issue with retaining members. Conditions and pay are the main concerns and are having an impact on morale, according to representatives for enlisted personnel. 

In May, The Journal reported that troops are owed €3.7 million in allowances.

“The numbers are too low,” Ó Fearghaíl said, adding that “much more needs to be done”.

Pointing to the example of the high numbers of medical professionals who come from abroad to work for the HSE, he said that one potential solution to the recruitment issue in the Defence Forces could be to recruit people from outside Ireland.

He cited a number of examples where this is done by militaries in other countries, including the French Foreign Legion. 

Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil Oireachtas Press Office Oireachtas Press Office

He also said that these foreign recruits could come from countries that have benefited from Irish Aid, the government’s overseas development programme. Irish Aid partner countries include a number of African states as well as Palestine and Vietnam. 

Tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris, who stood in for the Taoiseach during Leaders Questions today, acknowledged that recruitment remains an issue but pointed to a recent increase in applications.

The number of applications rose from a total of 9,479 in 2023 to a total of 16,510 applications last year. 

Ó Fearghaíl said that people close to the issue were “deeply sceptical” about those numbers.

Harris said he took his point and noted that the process was probably too slow and this was leading people to take other jobs despite applying, but said of the recent increase that “I think there must be something in it”.

On the idea of finding recruits abroad, Harris said he did not want to give a “knee-jerk” response in the Dáil and that he would have to talk to the minister for defence, Helen McEntee.