Why do we have an army?

Carles Puyol

Just wondering why we have an army. We're never going to get invaded by another country, and even if we did, chances are our army wouldn't do much anyway. So what's the point?

There's a good few countries in Europe, and indeed around the world, that don't have an army, why should we? The money could be better used elsewhere, unless there actually is an important reason for it.

howamidifferent

There the backup for the binmen strikes.

F35

Because everyone agrees with me!

The Narrator

In case we're invaded by Germany.

They have us by the balls already though, so there's little chance they will...

3rd Ferguson

They got a good deal on a load of uniforms back in the 80's. No point in letting them go to waste

I Heart Internet

For lols

Einhard

So we'll have something to keep in our sleevies.

Amirani

Carles Puyol wrote: »

There's a good few countries in Europe, and indeed around the world, that don't have an army, why should we?

Is there?

Amirani

F35 wrote: »

• To defend the Irish state against armed aggression.
• To give aid to the civil power (ATCP). This means that the Army assists, when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order in Ireland.
• To participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations peacekeeping missions, and EUFOR (UN-sanctioned peacekeeping missions only).
• To carry out other duties which may be assigned to them from time to time. For example, assistance on the occasion of natural disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, etc.

[/Thread] really. Good answer.

SEPT 23 1989

to defend us against the Zombies

Peregrine

Not this again..

Carles Puyol wrote: »

There's a good few countries in Europe

Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Iceland and the Vatican

All except Iceland has the population of a Dublin suburb. Andorra is protected by Spain and France, Monaco by France, Vatican informally by Italy and Iceland maintains a highly militarised coastguard (ask the Royal Navy, they went to play with them in the 70s), is a member of NATO and has an air defence system.

Carles Puyol wrote: »

and indeed around the world, that don't have an army

I can almost count them on my fingers and you would never have heard of half of them.

Carles Puyol wrote: »

why should we? The money could be better used elsewhere, unless there actually is an important reason for it.

I find the ability to protect our sovereignty and 'neutrality' rather important. They do way more than this of course.

When **** hits the fan, you'll be the first one to ask why we didn't have an army.

madel

Carles Puyol wrote: »

Just wondering why we have an army. We're never going to get invaded by another country, and even if we did, chances are our army wouldn't do much anyway. So what's the point?

There's a good few countries in Europe, and indeed around the world, that don't have an army, why should we? The money could be better used elsewhere, unless there actually is an important reason for it.

Just a few things that I notice the defence forces do are cash in transit, prisoner escort, patrolling installations, guarding portlaoise prison, protecting our fisheries, intercepting drug smugglers, border patrol (not as important now but could be with the way things are going) and probably the most common thing is the explosive ordnance. Those guys are busy.

Not saying we do need an army but at the same time, they do serve a purpose. Maybe they could even do more things?

jd83

They were called out 93 times in 2012

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/number-of-pipebombs-dealt-with-this-year-up-a-third-28950597.html

shane9689

I.R.A and the U.V.F are the main reasons we have an army. thats why they gaurd the banks when moneys being moved, incase the ira, as they have done before, try rob it, or incase of a terrorist attack by them. no army = ira win haha. no one to stop them ruling the roost then

also pirates...alot of our army is naval...stop the damn spainards fishing in our water, or drug lords well...smuggling drugs

Flibbles

Being neutral does not mean "being bent over a table waiting for invasion". If attacked, Ireland still has to protect itself.

P_1

It's a bit like having insurance isn't it? You'd rather not have to pay for it but it's pretty damn useful to have just in case

statesaver

There is a Military thread on this forum, would suggest you try there

I am pie

Spainards. Damn them...

Naval Army....jeez, if only they had a word for that. Navar...no, no, doesn't sound right. Hmm, maybe Arval...no, doesn't quite sound right either. I dunno, what about Navy.

Amirani

shane9689 wrote: »

also pirates...alot of our army is naval...stop the damn spainards fishing in our water, or drug lords well...smuggling drugs

Spaniards are allowed fish in our water as much as they want.

EyeSight

Is our Army strong enough to protect ourselves?

Amirani

EyeSight wrote: »

Is our Army strong enough to protect ourselves?

Depends what you mean by that.

Is it strong enough to protect us against the US or the Brits invading? No.

Is it strong enough to protect us against most realistic threats? Probably.

myfriendtom

Winters coming.

Pai Mei

NiallSparky wrote: »

Spaniards are allowed finish in our water as much as they want.

Dear God I hope not :pac:

Lapin

If anything our army is grossly underfunded, far too small, poorly deployed and disregarded by successive governments who offer little other than lip service to the men and women who sign up to defend this state.

The same can be said for the Air Corps and Navy.

They are the butt of many an ignoramous joke by people who don't realise how much we actually owe them.

I believe its time they were treated with the respect they deserve. We should join NATO, abandon the bullshít of neutrality, install a navy capable of patrolling our coastal waters, create a strategic air force fit for an island nation and quadruple the army in size to take our place on the frontline in the war against terror.

Time we stopped hiding like cowards behind the Brits and Yanks and stood up for ourselves.

shane9689

myfriendtom wrote: »

Winters coming.

haha, irelands army motto should be "winter is coming"...primary roll is to get nora off her flooded land :P mind the ice

shane9689

Lapin wrote: »

If anything our army is grossly underfunded, far too small, poorly deployed and disregarded by successive governments who offer little other than lip service to the men and women who sign up to defend this state.

The same can be said for the Air Corps and Navy.

They are the butt of many an ignoramous joke by people who don't realise how much we actually owe them.

I believe its time they were treated with the respect they deserve. We should join NATO, abandon the bullshít of neutrality, install a navy capable of patrolling our coastal waters, create a strategic air force fit for an island nation and quadrouple the army in size to take our place on the frontline in the war against terror.

Time we stopped hiding like cowards behind the Brits and Yanks and stood up for ourselves.

aaaand this is why we dont listen to you haha...join nato? war against terror? dear god someones completely disconnected with reality....stop playing toy soilder and wake the **** up. when we sent troops to africa back in the day, they had a harsh dose of reality...it was idiots like you who sent them there, and idiots like you who got them killed

bumper234

NiallSparky wrote: »

Spaniards are allowed fish in our water as much as they want.

Jesus....and people have been complaining about Fluoride in the water? Wait till they hear about this:eek:

Guyanachronism

Lapin wrote: »

If anything our army is grossly underfunded, far too small, poorly deployed and disregarded by successive governments who offer little other than lip service to the men and women who sign up to defend this state.

The same can be said for the Air Corps and Navy.

They are the butt of many an ignoramous joke by people who don't realise how much we actually owe them.

I believe its time they were treated with the respect they deserve. We should join NATO, abandon the bullshít of neutrality, install a navy capable of patrolling our coastal waters, create a strategic air force fit for an island nation and quadruple the army in size to take our place on the frontline in the war against terror.

Time we stopped hiding like cowards behind the Brits and Yanks and stood up for ourselves.

Such as . . .

Amirani

Lapin wrote: »

take our place on the frontline in the war against terror.

Time we stopped hiding like cowards behind the Brits and Yanks and stood up for ourselves.

How is illegally invading sovereign nations in the Middle East standing up for ourselves? Why does it seem that it's only countries that **** around in the Middle-East that tend to be Islamic terrorist targets?

Guyanachronism

Half the current size of the army and we would still have enough for overseas deployments, cash in transit escort, assisting the gardai and getrid of the reserve defence forces.

Also there seems to be a lot of over lap with civil defence. I think greater integration between, garda, army and civil defence. Stop resource duplication.

Peregrine

Lapin wrote: »

install a navy capable of patrolling our coastal waters, create a strategic air force fit for an island nation

I agree 100% with that bit