Inside Budget 2027: ‘The meeting was brutal’ - the tensions on the road to new spending package
In 10 days Simon Harris and Jack Chambers will present their budget – in Government back rooms the horse-trading with fellow Ministers is in full swing
Department of Defence
Is anyone ever held to account for failures in the public sector?
Almost every day there are stories about gross incompetence
Ireland’s whack-a-mole approach to defence is profoundly concerning
A bigger defence budget tells us very little about whether Ireland is actually better defended, or what we are defending ourselves against
Defence Forces armoured vehicles went years without use
One vehicle was driven for just 2,100km over 14-year life but ran up more than €220,000 in maintenance and repair costs during that time
Remember the iodine tablets? A look back at emergency advice over the years
A nationwide distribution programme will see approximately 2.2 million households receiving the Be Emergency Ready booklets soon
Soldiers’ rations cut, naval radar plan paused as Defence Forces ordered to save millions
Military sources say ‘all spending’ paused barring something that could prevent a ship going to sea
Torches and battery-operated radios: New guidelines for a national emergency are in the post
A three-week nationwide distribution programme will see approximately 2.2 million households ‘Be Emergency Ready’
Government levy will impact funding for Uisce Éireann, IDA, Fáilte Ireland
Department of Defence says levy to offset education overspend will put ‘significant’ pressure on military transformation programme
Emergency advice booklets to be distributed to households
The booklet provides tips on being prepared for extreme weather, prolonged power outage and other emergencies
European warships providing missile cover during EU presidency must stay 22km off Irish coast
Attorney General says it is unconstitutional for foreign military forces to deploy within Irish territory while on active operations
The Curragh is full of natural treasures. It needs safeguarding
The need for conservation measures on the Co Kildare plains has been recognised for 30 years
Honesty about Israeli-made system and Government jet would have been refreshing
Department of Defence stance difficult to reconcile with role for which navigation tool was designed
State paid more than €500k to private firm for air traffic control at Dublin Air Corps base
Flying operations had been restricted at Casement Aerodrome for period last year due to shortage of qualified military personnel
Ireland’s first long-range military radar systems to be in place next year
France was selected months ago as Ireland’s preferred partner to deliver the programme
Seán Rooney’s family seek to examine ‘conduct’ of military investigation into soldier’s death
Reports from independent pathologist and ballistics expert being sought for upcoming inquest hearing
Ireland retains out-of-date air navigation systems in response to Russian jamming
Ground-based beacons, despite nearing the end of their service life, are less vulnerable to interference
New Army vehicles under French deal can automatically target perceived threats using AI
According to experts, these systems can also be configured to fire automatically without human input
Robots in the military: how the Defence Forces is using AI to cover shortfalls in resources and personnel
Technology is being deployed by Irish military to detect threats to key underwater cables and monitor Russian ‘shadow-fleet’ vessels
Most Traveller caravans on Department of Defence lands in the Curragh have left, court told
Three caravans remain on site and are an encouragement to others to camp there, High Court hears
Attacks on undersea cables could cut off Ireland from global internet, Government warned
Concerns over threat to key infrastructure raised in private submissions by Government departments and State agencies
‘The spy is the boring guy in a suit’: Inside the State’s military intelligence service
In a rare interview a senior officer with the Irish Military Intelligence Service talks about its work – and the threats facing the State
Ireland’s neutrality a ‘difficult path’ to follow, senior official says
Department of Defence secretary general Jacqui McCrum spoke at French defence conference
Ireland joins the hunt for Russian submarines
From ‘token navy’ to sub-hunters: The plans to transform the Irish Naval Service into a modern military force
Department of Defence urged to improve protection of critical underwater gas pipelines
Attacks on infrastructure could cause disruption and economic harm, says Gas Networks Ireland
Damage to Irish subsea gas pipelines could take ‘six months to fix and lead to power outages’
Threats to Ireland’s subsea gas interconnectors ‘very much a realistic possibility’, Gas Networks Ireland warns Government
‘Deterrent capability’ will be ‘in tatters’ if Defence Forces retention not addressed, says Lieut Col
Government analysis suggests it is years away from achieving even interim target for personnel numbers
New legal powers will allow Naval Service to board vessels, including Russia’s shadow fleet
Existing laws will be updated to give the service ‘clearly defined statutory powers at sea to counter threats in our maritime domain’
Speak to Ukraine’s drone operators before buying 300 French armoured vehicles
No doubt the Irish Defence Forces have been monitoring developments in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion
Ireland to allow French and British vessels to patrol Irish-controlled waters
The move will be outlined on Wednesday with the unveiling of the National Maritime Security Strategy
Why Dún Laoghaire should have a full naval base
Sensitive fibre optic cables and gas pipelines are concentrated in the Irish Sea. We need to have a vessel patrolling the area immediately
Defence Forces to acquire mobile air traffic control tower for emergencies during EU presidency
Government is fast-tracking acquisition of anti-drone technology for use during summits
Taoiseach’s dismissal of Irish security concerns should worry us all
Ireland’s strategic vulnerability has been normalised to a dangerous extent
Naval Service to outsource ship maintenance due to technician shortage
Civilians from naval firm, most likely from outside State, will carry out almost all repairs and upkeep
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