Interesting articles

Bad luck or stupidity?

Sometimes this place feels like the comments section of the journal.

Might depend on when the information on the ship came through.

If the cargo ship had got to international waters what would have happened? Could the state still intercept?

I thought from the coverage that the ships captain had already been airlifted off the ship before the Trawler went aground? And I hope there's footage of the rounds being fired?

Would it even be safe to try in that weather?

Stupidity for the FV, they didnt know what they were doing going over drying height. I doubt they had charts & if they did they could not read them.

Good article, to be fair to this journalist he generally gives the DF good, balanced coverage. Again we are fortunate to have well trained personnel able to execute this professionally and successfully. Still no excuse to pay and resource them properly to do their job.

To be fair, isn’t there a detachment within government buildings anyway? Don’t think that changes with leaving ATCP?

Well this is one way to spin things I guess...

It's a good things ships never breakdown or anything?

Think a lot of them should be getting awards for this tbh, it was a very well handled operation.

Nah thye'll look at this like "why are you complaining, you still managed with what we gave you,where is our thanks!"

I think your last para nails it, DF ability to consistently improvise and figure out solutions etc despite big hurdles is to their credit, but is one that has been totally taken for granted. I would feel among reasonable members of the public this is recognised and there is now a general acceptance that this needs to be resolved.There are probably degrees of support after that for the scale of investment- perhaps interceptor jets is the gold standard, but something below that is the minimum we should expect - ability to patrol our waters, airlift our citizens etc. However, it will take time for much of the reforms to realistically take hold given the low starting baseline. However, if there are key skills gaps that need to be recognised and paid for, it is inexcusable that these are still allowed fester. It is my sense this is a pay relativities issue and fear of contagion across the public service. IMHO there is a strong case to ring fence these payments to the DF due to the unique circumstances of the job. Case in point this week ARW, heli pilots, NS etc without exaggeration putting their lives on the line for relatively meagre recompense, standing beside them later were other services who were on a better deal for a fraction of the risk …

The Guards, as is usually the case their problems boil down to money, allowances, OT etc but conflated with a bunch of other issues for good measure. Maybe they are right, but any I know, including close family, have a bit of a sense of entitlement. They have a tough job, but also are amongst the best paid in the public service with an accelerated pension accrual.

I'd love to know what these guys are thinking with Bring in the army.

The lad in Meath was shouting the same thing back in April. - https://meathlive.net/2023/04/19/tommy-reilly-send-in-the-soldiers/

Section 7, Garda Siochana Act 2005.

There is nothing there that allows them to abdicate that responsibility to others, with the exception of requesting a Special Intervention Unit from another EU state.

You had section 15 Criminal Law Act 1976, (Power of Defence Forces to arrest and search in certain circumstances.), which was in effect for the duration of the Emergency Powers Act 1976. That period of National Emergency was declared ended by the Dail and Seanad in February 1995.

Emergency legislation enacted during the Emergency expired when that period was declared ended.

As a wise man once said:

There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people. - Admiral William Adama