I have a feeling the specifics will be gone over in multiple sub-threads, but let's use this for discussion of the report in one neat place, shall we?
Horrible-looking link to the PDF, but it works.
I'd be surprised if it did not.
Its a good fit overall, in the context of Ireland's overall size, external relations and military scope. Better than some of the other Depts it has been lumped it with down the years anyway.
I have a suspicion that Michéal Martin may opt for FA & D as Tánaiste and that Coveney could replace Varadkar at Enterprise. O'Brien is staying at H,P&LG as we know and I can't see McEntee being moved sideways while still on Maternity leave.
In the Defence review tyat was released it mentions the two extra medium helicopters and 8 super medium. Does that mean long term replacing the 139s with super mediums or keeping the 139 fleet with an extra 2 139s plus 8 new super mediums?
Yes thats what i taught but in the Defence Forces review 2022 on military.ie they have it worded as the following "2 extra medium lift helicopters and 8 super medium lift helicopters"
Thats just reads slightly different
More than likely Leonardo will win the UK tender with the AW149 we could easily add on 10 aircraft and get a discount with the overall unit price.
We could even through are lot in with the French H160m order but that helicopter might be to small for our needs
Why would the Irish military get a discount on the back of a UK order? If they do place a massive order, the only thing we'd get out of it is a lead time somewhere over the horizon.
The same reason as any bulk order the more you bulk order the more the unit price comes down.
If we went this route our ordering team would have to fight the case that we get the helicopters in a reasonable time frame.
Its being discussed here several times the advantages of ordering in bulk even Coveney has said we should be ordering with other nations. By the time the order is made the UK will be probaly back in the Customs union
A) We don't interoperate with Britain in any fashion like NZ does with Aus. Apart from them being our Air Force of course.
B) We should indeed be bulking in with other Countries, but thats a future development on the PESCO model. Its feasible to cooperate with single or multiple EU partners, but not Britain. For many practical and political reasons.
And I wouldn't hold your breath about them being back in the Customs Union anytime soon. Apart from there being no good reason why the EU should allow that without significant concessions, its a policy of neither the current GB Govt nor His Majesty's loyal opposition, aka the alternative government.
So do we think Mr Martin will bring any drive to the Commissions report?
Time will tell but I’m not expecting much from him.
Certainly it will be the results by the end of the government that will decide whether he has been a good minister, however the other item that might have an influence is his time at the EUCO meetings since the war began, perhaps some “difficult” questions might have been raised on our limitations that might influence his engagement on Defence.
He more than likely well step down in 18 months to allow a new FF leader in for the next election so hopefully in the 18 months he will do his best to get the commissions suggestions done
Not a chance.
18 months from now we'll only just have completed the talks about talks, the planning of the plan.
And now is the time when the Northern Ireland question really gets into serious dealings. And thats on top of Ukraine.
Yes, our UNSC term is over, but still, If I were to estimate the demands on his time over the next two years, I'd say 80% Foreign Affairs, 20% Defence, or less.
The most important thing he can do is to keep the wick turned up under the DoD to get the enabling structures in place, put the change agents and new Command structure into legislation. That may very much depend on who is named as Minister of State for Defence. If its given to Hildegarde Naughton, in the same way as it was to Jack Chambers, then as Chief Whip too, she won't have the requisite time for it.
I hope Varadkar and Martin have the sense to appoint a good MoS, with no other duties but Defence.
A come on Larbre some Postive taughts!
Was there a Jnr Minister last time around?
Jack Chambers.
He was Govt Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Depts of Fun, the Taoiseach and Defence. So there might as well not have been.
I'll express some positive 'thoughts' when I see a reason to do so.
Ah jesus lads i like jack he gave my local club some funding not so long ago.
Thats mad i didnt cop he was jnr defence minister as well, i would have asked him a few questions
I wonder did jack know that he had that role as well. Its easy to forget when you are giving money away and opening pitches and being told by everyone there on the day how wonderfull you are
Well I can tell you he did not, because I sent on to him my suggestions, a good while back, for a strengthened reserve, modern national service model and third level ROTC and he responded to the effect that that had nothing to do with him, but would pass it on.
Thats Father Ted Stuff
The Irish Government? Surely not...
I see the department are hiring direct civillian apprentices for various trades. Have they decided it easier this way than getting to join the military as apprentices or have they always done this?
So, An Taoiseach nua has appointed outgoing Minister of State for Housing, Peter Burke, to be Minister of State at Dept of the Taoiseach and at Foreign Affairs (Minister for European Affair in other words) and Minister of State for Defence.
So of course that leaves less than no time for working on things Defence. Another indictment of these Government parties' attitude to the sector.
Minister why are re opening the barracks in Mullingar? Because i have being a minister for the last few years and i have to show to do something for the town or i might not get relected
Edit: Oh no they forgot to tell peter he was also junior minister for Defence!
https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2022/12/21/burke-pleasantly-surprised-with-new-role-in-europe/
Well I see the Report popped up in someone's latest Q&A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM1DRsHyl_Q&t=1693s
Not that he's cynical or anything. Might want to change the timestamp to 1506 though
For the apc replacement do you think the Piranha V would be a good purchase?
https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41037155.html
During the mini mini government shake up i was disapointed the government did not appoint a Super Jnr under MM to push on with the commission report
I see the DOD are taking on Civilan Apprentices such as sparks and fitters.
Is this just to speed up the available work force on equipment as they wont have to do military training
Naval yard also. How does the chain of command work . Do they just report to a Sgt and call him by his 1st name
Isn’t that been normal though? I mean my godfathers dad was a civilian working in the yard back in the corvette days, and there was an article in the Examiner I think last year regarding the workforce in the yard?
