General Election 2024

Larbre34

They're basically not getting a new Department. It wouldn't be up and running within the 5 years of the government, and even then, who knows if it would be effective in doing what they want it to do.

Far more sensibly (and likewise with FG's infrastructure idea) it will probably end up being a reshuffle of offices to different Departments, eg, the Office for Integration being under the Department of Children was always a nonsense, it is a domestic affairs matter and should be under Justice.

CrabRevolution

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122946880#Comment_122946880

The office of Integration being where it was is a reflection of the ideology that was totally unopposed in Irish politics until recently and even now is still the dominant feeling.

Namely that there is nothing to be said or done about immigration; all immigration is to be welcomed and the only thing that needs addressing is where to house and look after them at the State's expense (and also the risk of the cockles of the nation's hearts overheating).

Hence Integration was placed with Children, Equality etc. because according to this ideology there's no need for the state to be involving the law with immigration, the State should just be paying to house and feed them.

Larbre34

I won't be biting on that topic in this forum.

It wasn't a talking point, just a statement of reality.

Grassy Knoll

There is no way DoD will be a standalone ministry, forget it. The budget is too modest, there are individual elements of budgets in other Departments that are larger. Best that can be hoped for is it and something like Foreign Affairs share the same Minister and that a ‘heavyweight’ covers both. However, the Defence forces,have atrophied to the stage that you could throw an extra billion next year at it and realistically it could not spend the money. What I would say is DFA instinctively would support greater military involvement internationally etc by us and this approach could,run off,on the shared Minister indirectly.

roadmaster

The next new MOD in january is going to have lots of press releases with new Helicopters, MRV, Radars,Mowag replacement and most importantly the new State jet!!!!!

Apperently they the DOD and defence forces have fallen even more behind with the commisions report than what was taught. The army are getting alot of the blame for it but it cant just be them.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970693#Comment_122970693

Shocking!….

Or not, question being is it internal in the DOD or DF or is it Finance/DPER that is the underlying issue or some unholy combination of all of the above? I mean realistically, if its end of January as suggested today for the new Government, I wouldn't expect anything till March at best, most likely after the summer at this point, and that will be just to say they are still far behind and can't possibly need any major budget uplift for the next year.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970867#Comment_122970867

I suppouse the Minister will have to go Newbridge and see his or her office and say ill never be back here again.

The best i heard of the electional wishes was that as we know as per the commison report said the Army HQ should be in the center of Ireland and we only have one barracks there custume. But the good auld boxer is going to say that he personally got the government to put it there as one of his demands for support.

roadmaster

Looking at how the cabinet seams to be lining up i wonder will Mr Martin to decide to keep Defence for himself as he seams to like it and than appoint a super junior to oversee the LOA2?

Larbre34

You think Micheál Martin will keep Defence, as Taoiseach??

Whatever happens, it won't be that. Yes, I'm aware Leo Varadkar acted as Defence Minister when Taoiseach for a spell, as Enda Kenny did too, but those times were to fill a gap created by a vacancy or other reshuffle situation and so only temporarily.

The safe bet is now that Simon Harris will take on Foreign Affairs as Tánaiste, and Defence will remain with it. A super junior will then come from Fianna Fáil to hold the direct brief.

roadmaster

Latest madness i heard was FF wants a Minster for National Security with a Super Junior for AGS and a Super Jnr for defence forces.

Its all about the jobs and minsterial pensions.

roadmaster

So it looks like Defence has been split from Foreign Affairs, Are we looking at full time minister of Defence?

Timesheet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123055664#Comment_123055664

Michael or Danny ?

Which would be best?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123055664#Comment_123055664

I was just wondering the same thing given Trade is going back to Foreign Affairs, keeping the double jobing would be a stretch.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123055700#Comment_123055700

All they would want is the army down in the national park.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123055664#Comment_123055664

I remain unconvinced.

Yes it seems foreign affairs and trade will be a full time package for Simon Harris, but I have an awful feeling it may end up as the Department of Justice, Defence and Domestic Affairs.

A senior minister and a couple of super juniors over each of the other briefs.

I hope I'm wrong, but with the shape this is taking, the only standalone Ministries look like Health, Social Protection, Enterprise and Agriculture. Defence just doesn't compare in terms of budget and scope, so I don't see it being another.

roadmaster

Hooefully the Indo is wrong but they are saying FA ,Trade & Defence

Grassy Knoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123057370#Comment_123057370

zero chance defence will be standalone. The entire Defence budget is the equivalent to a HSE / Health spending over-run. Best chance is it remains attached to Foreign Affairs (and trade if thrown in). While it will be runt of the litter, it will at least have the deputy prime minister notionally in charge of it.

sparky42

Yeah, that really doesn't fill you with confidence that defence will get anything like the attention it needs, wonder who the Junior Minister will be?

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123058076#Comment_123058076

At this stage it maybe better under Martin with a Super Junior as if it is in with Harris it will be completly Fuc%ked with FA and Trade there.

Larbre34

There would be something to be said for that.

But the Department of the Taoiseach gets hung up on its own pet projects like shared island bullcrap. I'm not sure Defence is going to get a fair crack wherever it ends up

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123059125#Comment_123059125

Given the Program is out now and the defence section is basically "steady as it goes", with little extra ambition as far as I can see, yeah defence is likely in for another 5 years of wilderness.

Larbre34

From The Journal.ie liveblog.

Oh joy, another strategy document. Five more years of can-kicking it is then.

sparky42

This is the full link from the Indo, yeah more of the same, if Harris can even be bothered to do that.

https://www.independent.ie/editorial/pdfs/programmeforgovt.pdf

CrabRevolution

Harris as Minister for Defence on top of Táiniste, Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I don't share the vitriol others have towards him, but can't see him being anything other than useless for Defence.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123090766#Comment_123090766

Oh you never know just think of his tick toks driving a griffon or hanging out of an AW101.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123090766#Comment_123090766

Don’t forget leader of FG to the list of jobs he has, so even with the best will in the world trying to give 100% to anyone of them isn’t going to happen.

Larbre34

On the plus side, he does have a track record for signing up to runaway open ended contracts.

His last one is up to about €2.5 Billion at this stage.

Thats a full two squadrons of F-35A right there!

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123091376#Comment_123091376

Yes.

All eyes on the junior minister to be appointed next week, because much will be expected from them.

Larbre34

Thomas Byrne, TD for Meath East, is to be named Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence.

Previously, but not most recently, European Affairs and Defence had standalone Ministers of State. Now, Defence has been reduced to a third priority at Cabinet level and a second priority at Junior Ministerial level.

And it will be a decidedly second priority, as a MASSIVE amount of work will be going on vis-a-vis Ireland and the EU, the EU and America, the EU and Russia, etc etc. Not to mention the peak planning and preparation period in the coming months for the Irish EU Presidency in H2, 2026. And Thomas Byrne will be dragged all over the EU, every time the Taoiseach and Tánaiste are on a plane.

Now, I personally don't rate Thomas Byrne in the first place. He's got a poor enough reputation for building relationships and delivery, reasons he probably hasn't been promoted to Cabinet level while Browne ans Lawless and Butler have overtaken him.

So, just my opinion, this is a very poor day for the priority and the advancement of Defence and Security investment and reform.

I do hope Simon Harris finds a way to prove me wrong.