DF Commission Report

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.

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.

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.

Time will tell but I’m not expecting much from him.

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.

The Irish Government? Surely not...

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.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41048465.html

Depends who you think might be hungry.

I've no doubt, personally, that the professional military officers at general staff and senior operational command levels, will be only too delighted to be asked to expand the military against a benchmark of modern European fighting forces. Its what they have trained and studied for the last 30 or 40 years, while serving in a DF that was the poor relation to just about everything and everyone.

I also think the ordinary ranks will embrace the opportunities for serious career advancement and earning potential, including more adventurous service overseas and in cooperation with other European forces. Not to mention the improvement in conditions and representation.

At Government level, the buy-in appears to be strong and for Micheál Martin, like Coveney before him, there could be a great legacy in making the Navy and any future joint force presence in Cork Harbour into a major employer, centre of excellence and strong community pillar, just for instance.

I believe the Sec Gen McCrum in DoD is strongly committed too and hopefully she has the leadership skills to bring the Department along with her, by phasing in increased resources and opportunities for the civilian element of the defence sector.

Do you feel there is a weak appetite in a particular area?

Fair point.

At least so far the Government pushed through the first of the big budget increases and procurement on some of the significant capital items.

I guess we will see whether or not MM has the mettle to keep the pressure on Paschal and his mandarins to address the remuneration issues and hoover up the many small issues that need tackling.

RTÉ saying there is a tidal wave of awful allegations in the report.

bullying and toxic culture

assaults - physical, sexual, verbal

rape

katy Hannon on morning Ireland now tearing into the PDF