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  • #1232
    blindsider
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,067 ✭✭✭blindsider


    Naval Service needs investment if Ireland is to patrol Atlantic like the Russians, says Eamon Ryan

    Green Party leader says State’s internet connectivity will be ‘less at risk’ if there were more undersea cable connections with continental Europe and possibly even Japan

    Eamon Ryan said the Naval Service to be expanded in order to protect Ireland's underwater infrastructure

    Cormac McQuinn

    The Naval Service needs investment and the ability to patrol the Atlantic like Russia does, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said.

    In a round-table interview with reporters, Mr Ryan said there was no specific threat to underwater infrastructure nor does he have any evidence that Russia is interested in Ireland’s energy plans but he added: “They do patrol the Atlantic and we have to be able to patrol equally well.”

    He was responding to a question about the security of fibre-optic cables and future offshore renewable energy i the wake of Russian naval activity off the south coast of Ireland.


    The Minister for the Environment and Communications said that in general the security of internet connections will be “less at risk, if whatever warship wants to cut one” if there were backup connections to other European countries and possibly even as far away as Japan through the Arctic.


    “That sounds a bit ‘science fiction-y’ or a bit mad, but that’s actually within reach,” he said.

    [MOD] Snipped article after the first few paragraphs. We could do without copyright violation problems.[/MOD

    Post edited by Manic Moran on


  • #1233
    jonnybigwallet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭jonnybigwallet


    Thanks for posting Blind...



  • #1234
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    AGS have tender out for helicopter maintance. In the tender it notes that a H145 will be joining the 2 EC 145s in 2025.



  • #1235
    Manic Moran
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    Where did they come up with the 11,500 figure from anyway? I would presume that the Army is going to be restructured away from the 1970s type conventional combat light infantry brigade structure to something more suited for whatever the Government thinks the Army should be doing. And that restructuring is probably going to result in a different required headcount, likely of different job description ratios



  • #1236
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121559667#Comment_121559667

    In regards to the Army they have already made appointments of senior advisors with backgrounds in military to the Army Force Design office. These people will set the the roles, formations unit sizes and base locations in the next 6 months



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  • #1237
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121560038#Comment_121560038

    Apperently the older boys in green are in for some shock for the new layout of the army. Its going to be designed for purpose. One of teh questions is do we need a cavalry corps and if so for what? When was the last time they deployed as cavalry overseas and the same goes for other support corps. I know your joking about naval infantry but as you say we are an island nation. It will be interesting to see if the curragh fights back.

    The other major interferance is political with elections coming up. I dont think some of you in the south and dublin understand the anger still in towns like cavan and mullingar about the closure of the barracks.

    There is very intense lobbying going on to have them reopened. One TD even suggested that since the south has got a HEMS helicopter that O Neill barracks should be reopened and 112 relocated to it.

    Either way Fun Tines ahead



  • #1238
    Manic Moran
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121560038#Comment_121560038

    Right, it's in the CoDF implementation plan, but surely it would make more sense for the group to finish their deliberations, announce the new orbat, and then figure out how many of what sort of troops they need, instead of just saying right now "We're going for 11,500" and ending up with 1,500 of the wrong type of troop.



  • #1239
    jonnybigwallet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭jonnybigwallet


    I see the Spanish Army have established a brand new type of brigade formation...The King Alfonso Brigade? Might be the type of thing the Irish need. Seeing as they are down to only two brigades now.



  • #1240
    sparky42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,369 ✭✭✭sparky42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121561794#Comment_121561794

    To be fair, the 11,500 figure is for the end point of LoA2, and will be a challenge even then, any deliberations on a new Orbat are going to be well done before we hopefully see any meaningful increase in strength.



  • #1241
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,433 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    I wouldn't be too concerned about the political backlash in the Barracks towns, thats already been priced in a few elections ago, and only a fool would claim to see a way to having ancient Barracks reoccupied as 21st Century military installations again.

    My guess is that the announcement of the Army Headquarters will be withheld until after the general election which must be held by late Feb '25 at the latest.

    And really options for it are pretty limited, as we have previously discussed.

    The most important activity now is to see the shakeup being active, energetic and ambitious, both from the point of view of slaughtering a few sacred cows, and keeping the DF in the media as an exciting prospect for a stimulating career and a good life.



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  • #1242
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121562562#Comment_121562562

    Actually they do still own the land it has not being signed over to the LDA yet despite the money the LDA have spent on design teams. A lot of LDA land around the country has not actually being signed over to them yet.



  • #1243
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121562357#Comment_121562357

    The 1st sacred cow i would be slaughtering would be the Equestrian boys in mckee . Send them to the curragh or the national stud or even better P45s and use there space in Mckee to build good accomadation for the younger men and women base there



  • #1244
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,433 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    However, they are an important element of competitive equestrian success in Ireland. I wouldn't be inclined to feck the baby out with the bathwater.

    The music school and equine could all be put under a single command and expand the horses into a ceremonial presence with the bands.

    Like it or not, horse sport is Ireland's one truly world class presence.



  • #1245
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121564014#Comment_121564014

    I dont think they should be taking up valuable space in McKee where no one outside of the Army know they exist.

    They have zero inpact on the irish horse business unlike willie mullins.

    If they are to stay part of the defence forces they should be in the national stud where the public can see them



  • #1246
    jonnybigwallet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭jonnybigwallet


    I'm inclined to agree with my old mate Larbre on this and feel that the horse element of the DF should be enhanced to include ceremonial duties. Parades etc....



  • #1247
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121565256#Comment_121565256

    Did Mary Lou & Crew get to you over christmas?



  • #1248
    sparky42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,369 ✭✭✭sparky42


    On a bit of a tangent, but I've found myself having a look through some of the Foreign Affairs Archives online for some reasons, and its frustrating/amazing to see the same fecking discussions today happening nearly 100 years ago. From 1926 for example:

    Of course, a prevalent misconception appears to prevail about the question of neutrality of nations generally, apart from our peculiar position in the British Commonwealth. It must be remembered that neutrality depends on force and not declarations, and that if it suits other powers to violate any country's neutrality, they will do so with impunity unless it can put up sufficient force to make it awkward for them to do so. When the European War started, Belgium and Greece declared themselves neutral, and did not mobilise, while Holland and Switzerland also declared themselves neutral, but backed their declarations by mobilisation of all possible military and naval resources with the result that their frontiers were respected.

    https://www.difp.ie/volume-3/1926/coastal-defence/740/#section-documentpage



  • #1249
    sparky42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,369 ✭✭✭sparky42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121566252#Comment_121566252

    To be fair given the economic state post Civil War and then the 1927 Crash the resources were beyond limited for the CnaG period I would say. After that however there were options for development that we could have taken but didn't. I mean for example in 1938 apart from the highlight of agreeing to hand back the Ports, there was a suggestion from the British for building up a domestic defence industry in regard to covering Irish needs in case of war and selling excess to the British. Given their rearmament program was hitting the maximum of their domestic economy at the time I wonder what investments we might have been able to get? It didn't go anywhere of course like so much else.



  • #1250
    Risoc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Risoc


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121321303#Comment_121321303

    Is this story ever likely to see the light of day again?



  • #1251
    mupper2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 302 ✭✭mupper2



    "Defence Forces may be on the brink of resolving its recruitment crisis

    "

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41300881.html



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  • #1252
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,208 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    reads like an "advertising feature"

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,

    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • #1253
    mupper2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 302 ✭✭mupper2


    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/01/10/officials-to-establish-network-of-overseas-military-representatives/



  • #1254
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,433 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    https://www.newstalk.com/news/eu-army-would-not-be-a-force-for-good-or-peace-murphy-1630268

    Declan Power made a complete mug of Paul Murphy on PK yesterday. Worth a listen.



  • #1255
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    Interview with cathal berry about the rangers. I may have misunderstood but i think he is saying the ARW name is being kept with the IRL SOF

    https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/what-is-the-role-of-the-irish-army-ranger-wing




  • #1256
    roadmaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622340#Comment_121622340

    He also mentioned the Rangers will have a dedicated air corps crew . I wonder will the helicopter for them arrive sooner that expected



  • #1257
    sparky42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,369 ✭✭✭sparky42


    Another article on the Wing today, the amount of coverage the DF is getting has massively increased over the last couple of years:

    https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/in-the-news/irelands-elite-soldiers-get-an-upgrade/?



  • #1258
    mupper2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 302 ✭✭mupper2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121621252#Comment_121621252

    The Rangers were never going away, but an issue was the structure, command etc of the "ARW" was a fairly outdated 80s/90s style set up, We could see over the last decade similarly sized countries/units changed their set ups radically Finland, Denmark, Norway the Baltics etc dedicated special boats units, air support, specialised infantry/enabler units even down to dogs etc...



  • #1259
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,433 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622543#Comment_121622543

    Probably not.

    Can't see a tender for new helicopters for at least another 2 years. Not so long as we don't have pilots to fly them anyway.

    The MV Matthew episode was mortifying. The only thing worse than having 8 helicopters on station and still having to pull the one doing civvy ambulance duty to board a ship, would be having 12 and seeing the same turns of events.



  • #1260
    sparky42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,369 ✭✭✭sparky42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121624795#Comment_121624795

    That doesn’t really match up with the timeframe that has been suggested though? Two years time would be at least when we start a tender for the replacement of the 139s as announced, the two additional helicopters are to come online before that replacement I thought?



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  • #1261
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,433 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Are they? Unlike some of the projects, such as the Primary Radar, there hasn't been any firm action to procure.

    Even if they put the call out tomorrow, they'd be doing well to get a spot on a waiting list to deliver in <24 months, given the massive demand on both Airbus and Leonardo right now.



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