DF Commission Report

Yeah, for me the Government is still going to hide behind the Treaty Opt Outs along with the lack of political cost domestically to do as little as possible. I mean even if we had an incident like the recent shooting at a fishing ship by the Russians, I doubt it would have any repercussions.

Not sure why we would be looking at as a model would be Norway, we don't have anything like the Sovereign Wealth Fund backing them, nor Conscription (lets not have that argument again). Adopting a Nordic model isn't likely, outside any PR statement.

None of which will matter to anyone outside of Ireland.

In neither case is there any speculation about when that natural life end point shall be. Because, lets face it, even DoD have no clue.

The plan for new and more rugged armour is not news, but realistically the Mowags will be in the inventory for the remainder of this decade and probably the support versions until 2035.

Is there any evidence that the Becketts will be withdrawn sooner than programmed life? I mean there's absolutely no question we'll see 40 years out of any current hulls, those days are gone, but the 60s are only between 5 and 10 years in service as we speak, is there any question that they cannot do the job for which they were designed in the first place, ie non war-fighting fishery protection EEZ patrolling and maritime patrol against criminality?

They are meant to receive a proper sonar suite as part ot CoDF adoption, they will surely form the backbone of the Navy even as the MRV and probably some more robust replacements for the P50s are procured.

And given our usual rate of defence related procurement, if we want something by the 2030's a program is going to have to start soon enough so it can sit and wait for years until its finally ordered…

Thats not the way it works. The annual budget to be delivered tomorrow covers, in the main, current expenditure.

So, payroll, ammo, fuel, maintenance items, consumables, recruitment, training, deployment overheads, agency contracts etc.

All of those items you mention are from the capital programme, and are well covered for funding. The barriers to delivery of them all relate to capacity within the DF and the DOD to onboard them, ie, there isn't any capacity.

I wonder how many that frees up for other duties?

I'm not so sure it's a good idea to withdraw army protection from the explosives plant….Any idea what they make there? 155mm shells, Missiles?

Thats it they will just get security company to man the gate like most companys. Besides the IIE plant as it known to the older posters or kemex to the younger ones havent produced sticks in a long time. Its all emulsion now which is mixed on the work site.

If some one is going to rob the plant best of luck to them as it will take some effort getting the right mix together. The local detective units and ASU units will just do more patrols in the area.

This action should free up at least 100 personal. The defence forces now just have to get rid of the other areas where they are doing security detail.

Not surprising.

But they should remember, the government will be the ones in control. And the Chief of Defence and Vice Chiefs only allegiance will be to that government and to the strategic management of all three services as an integrated force.

The Army were always bound to get pissy that the Air Corps (Force) and Naval Service (Navy) were going to be put on a par with them in every respect. They may get their engineers to build them a bridge and get over it.

You do though, don't you?

Don't the US Army, Air Force and Navy all have service chiefs (chief of staff and chief of naval ops respectively) that are each military head of branch and also on the council of Joint Chiefs of Staff?

In the Irish case, the CHoD (with A/CHoD) will head the strategic effort and also head a DFHQ with a Vice CHoD who will also be joint forces commander and immediate superior to the three service chiefs. This parity of esteem will be vital in culture change, I believe.

At the end of the day, everyone is in some sort of chain of command, even if that is the political head of government.

If you look at the Nordic Nations or New Zealand that appers to be the new managment system we are heading for so the current Army want to have as much influence as they can.

The problem with the new system also is that the Sec Gen of the DoD will still control the purse strings unlike in AGS were the commisoner controls the purse strings.

Brand new account, with only posts on this topic... Don't feed it folks.

it is fair to discuss the UN and peacekeeping missions. I am not sure there is much peacekeeping hubris in the DF, lots of service men have died and dangerous incidents are not uncommon. The IDF may engage Irish peacekeepers, but it would be risky for them on two counts, one because it risks weakening US support at a critical point, and perhaps even influencing an election, two, as Cathal Berry said on TV a few nights ago, the Irish are far from defenceless. In reality they would probably be the most competent force the Israelis would have engaged in a long time and if a few Israeli tanks got knocked out the Israeli aura of invincibility could take a knock at a delicate time in their “war”. Either way engaging the Irish would be a risky strategy with no real advantage to be gained for Israel. On the wider point the UN has a problem, it is hamstrung by the permanent members of the Security Council, all of whom want to limit its power and remit.

So we are well in to Q4 of 2024 and the following should be done:

• High level military Intelligence staffing
• High level army design - they have already said they are behind on this
• Defence forces estates review
• Apprentice school needs
• ATCP review - Underway
• Reserve forces - Underway
• Cyber- Underway
• Armour- Hard to say
• Naval Fleet replacement- IPVs & MRV?
• Radar- order should be in according to plan
• Anti UAV system- order should be in according to plan.
• Extra helicopters order should be in- apperently it is and is the H145

Just some of the items that should be done according to the November 2023 plan. The next update from the DOD is due and that should tell a tale or two.