Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Wednesday 22 March 2023 Dublin: 10°C

# Minister For Defence

Last week
12th March 2023 - 18th March 2023
# Fitzgerald Report
Report due on study into social media complaints of alleged military sexual misconduct
The Journal has obtained the findings in the report compiled by Ruth FItzgerald – it is due to be published in the coming days.
Last year
2022
# Defence spending
Pay increases and funding boost for radar sought as part of €8 billion defence proposals
A decision on the Commission on the Defence Forces will be brought to Cabinet today.
All time
# Defence Forces
First female Defence Forces officer achieves rank of Major General
Major-General Maureen O’Brien’s appointment to this rank was described as a “great source of pride for the Defence Forces” by Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney.
# Minister For Defence
Minister Paul Kehoe and his family evacuate home with gardaí after anti-eviction protesters arrived
The minister thanked the gardaí for their assistance in a statement.
# Abuse
British troops could face charges over Iraq War abuses
An inquiry has heard evidence of at least 1,514 possible victims, 280 of whom are alleged to have been unlawfully killed.
# Defence Forces
Will Ireland have to provide military assistance to France?
France is using The Lisbon treaty’s equivalent of Nato’s ‘an attack on one is an attack on all’ clause.
# no woman no cry
There are very, very few women in the Irish Army...
And none at all with rank more senior than lieutenant colonel.
# modifications
Defences Forces find solution to keep ambulances worth €900k on the road
Smaller crews had difficulty lifting stretchers in and out of the ambulances.
# ISAF
Irish troops in Afghanistan are coming home
A decision has yet to be made on any further deployment.
# Still in charge
Chief whip gets more powers, but the Taoiseach is still 'in every way' the Defence Minister
Many powers over the day-to-day running of the Defence Minister have been delegated to the government chief whip Paul Kehoe following Cabinet approval today.
# Defence Forces
Asbestos found on LÉ Aoife this week should have been removed a decade ago
The ship was taken out of action for a period this week while items were inspected for asbestos.
# Taoiseach
The opposition wants to know how long Enda Kenny will stay as Defence Minister
The Taoiseach has taken over the portfolio on a temporary basis.
# sign up
Want to join the army? Recruitment starts next month
There are currently 264 vacancies in the force to fill, though Minister Shatter said “no specific weaknesses” have been brought to his attention.
# Golan Heights
Shatter: No indications Irish troops in Syria are a target
The Minister for Defence said we must accept we are putting troops in harm’s way when we deploy them to these types of operations.
# Feeling confident?
Fianna Fáil tables Dáil motion of no confidence in Alan Shatter
TDs will debate Fianna Fáil’s motion on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the party saying Shatter’s position is untenable.
# Irish Defence Forces
Shatter says Syrian war is making Lebanon ‘increasingly unstable’
The Minister for Defence also revealed that the UN has requested that Irish observers be sent to Syria.
# Posse Comitatus
No, says Alan Shatter: I'm not going to attempt a coup
The dual minister assures that despite commanding both Gardaí and Army, he has “no interest of posing a threat to the State”.
# Educate Together
Multi-denominational Educate Together to run secondary schools
Educate Together will be the first new entrant to second level education since the 1930s.
# Military Judge
Over 20 court martial cases underway - but no military judge to hear them
The last judge retired in July 2010.
# Referendum
Shatter refuses to rule out second Fiscal Treaty referendum if voters say 'no'
Minister for Justice says the Fiscal Compact Treaty is about preventing future governments building debt for future generations.
# secret service
We could tell you about the Irish Secret Service budget, but then we'd have to kill you
One small part of the Budget hasn’t been touched this year: the secret service is retaining its €1m funding. SO what does it do?
# Lebanon
440 Irish troops prepare for peacekeeping deployment to Lebanon
Irish soldiers were first sent to Lebanon in 1978. Last month, Minister Shatter appointed Frank Callanan SC to review information surrounding the deaths of three Irish soldiers there in 1989.
# Tony Killeen
Tony Killeen will not contest general election
Fianna Fáil minister from Clare is the 23rd sitting TD to announce he will not be running in the 2011 election.
# Willie O'Dea
Willie O'Dea: I paid "over and above" for libel settlement
Former minister says it’s been a hard six months.