Interesting articles

A misguided understanding of what neutrality is and what it involves.

This whole belief that everyone loves us and Sure we're great peacekeepers because we never colonised everyone. Served on 7 missions and it was never once said to me.

The biggie: our unique and fortunate geographical location. Hard to get near, and 2 militarily friendly (irrespective of views on UK +Trump) nations either side of us.

Seems the Russians are still unhappy with us, good thing we’ve stepped up our capabilities…

Oh right…

https://www.thetimes.com/article/efd3d7ae-fd10-4b45-97c3-914ee260eea7?shareToken=b3692fed328e6369e4c3d759cce635e3

If any of that was fully true, I'd be very proud of it.

Yes, it is all grounded in different events, but I'm not sure why the Russians wouldn't expect complaining like that to go down as anything other than 'job well done' in Ireland and the EU.

Department of [redacted]

Redacted briefing for new Minister for Defence suggests EU impatience on Ireland's neutrality

Officials have made several strategic warnings to incoming Minister for Defence Simon Harris.

3.25pm, 28 Jan 2025

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LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

THE TÁNAISTE HAS been warned that EU “tolerance” and understanding for Ireland’s neutral stance may become less, a Department of Defence document reveals. 

The observation is contained in an inadequately redacted portion of the ministerial briefing document given to incoming Minister for Defence Simon Harris which was published yesterday.

The document has a number of redactions in it, particularly around connections to NATO, EU security and the awarding of certain contracts. The report conceals these aspects from the public but The Journal has obtained access.  

The most startling warning is centred around Ireland and its relationship with Europe in the midst of a heightened security environment. 

In a section entitled “EU Defence Industry” the briefing document looked at the changing atmosphere in Europe as member states close to Ukraine and Russia increase their military spend and participation in mutual defence strategies.  

It also mentioned how previously neutral states have now joined NATO as a key point of friction for Ireland. 

The redacted element states: “This is the challenging context facing Ireland in terms of our engagement with the EU on defence matters. Hitherto this, Ireland’s position, and those of other militarily neutral states, has been accepted.

“However, the changing geopolitical climate, the accession of the previously militarily neutral states of Finland and Sweden into NATO, and the resulting increased focus on defence industry and wider defence matters will likely result in a lower tolerance or understanding of this position into the future, as set out above.”

US strategic pivot

In another section looking at NATO alignment the Minister is warned that the US will likely no long be a support for EU defence. 

“Additionally, the US’s strategic pivot towards Asia, as indicated by the 2018 National Defence Strategy and the Biden administration’s priorities, allied to concerns around the incoming US president’s commitment to NATO, suggests potential limitations in US support for European defence,” the report states. 

The redacted section goes on to say this US shift will reinforce “the need for an autonomous and cohesive European defence approach, as regularly voiced by France, which has regularly pushed for the EU to be strategically autonomous in the area of defence over the last number of years”. 

In a section looking at Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026 there is a warning that there needs to be great care taken on the upcoming budget negotiations especially as it will be central to fund the upcoming EU White Paper on Defence. 

The report warns that the Irish EU Presidency will come during the negotiations for the EU Budget. It said that there will likely be a “considerable focus on defence initiatives”. 

In a redacted section the Department officials state: “The upcoming Presidency will mark a major shift in terms of the Department’s input into driving and delivering the EU’s security and defence policy when Ireland will be required to act as an honest broker across policy areas where Ireland has displayed considerable sensitivities heretofore.”

In an other redacted area the Department sought to conceal a number of Irish companies and universities benefiting from the European Defence Fund. 

When unredacted the companies are revealed to be NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth as well as Mbryonics and Applied Intelligence Analytics.

“In 2022, there were four successful applications: Applied Intelligence Analytics, Research Driven Solutions, VRAI and Mbryonics.

“In 2023, there was six successful Irish entities: Nurenda Technologies, Ubotica, Applied Intelligence Analytics, ISD Aerospace, Mbryonics and Rigr AI. The closing date for the 2024 programme was the 6 November.”

The document warns that the lack of a security clearance system for contractors is hampering Irish high-technology manufacturing businesses from getting access to lucrative defence contracts.

The lengthy document outlines several key challenges such as the continuing retention and recruitment struggles of the Irish Defence Forces.

It also warns that military authorities state that a lack of training capacity in the Defence Forces is hampering a dramatic increase in “inductions” to the services. 

The document again, states that there will be a preparation of a National Security Strategy – work that began in 2019.

😳

https://www.thejournal.ie/tanaiste-warned-that-tolerance-for-irelands-neutral-stance-may-run-out-in-eu-defence-matters-6607142-Jan2025/?utm_source=shortlink

They couldn't even arrange to have foreign electricity crews actually landed here on Thursday 23rd last, instead of them arriving 4 days after the storm. They had enough notice, and they must have known how bad it was going to be.

Sorry for going OT.

Some good news this evening.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/draft-law-to-undo-irelands-triple-lock-system-ready-to-be-brought-to-cabinet/a1805904610.html

Well first he actually has to bring it to cabinet and get it through the Daíl, the usual suspects are going to be very shouty I imagine. Murphy no doubt will get uninterrupted access to RTÉ studios to proclaim how evil it is…

As for progressing the renewal of the DF, lets wait and see…

Unless the whatever they are today Indo's decide to be tankie for the vote. But yes there really shouldn't be a huge issue in getting this through, should never have been there in the first place.

Utter Madness isn't it… Or at least it is according to the usual gobshites.

Have you seen Murphy’s reaction… It’s all lies and an evil plot!

As if the government could arrange even a basic plot let alone an “EVIL” one…

An Taoiseach made extensive remarks to the Cork Chamber, of all bodies, about defence and security, and about the discussions had in that regard at the EU Leader's meeting in Brussels this week.

“On Monday I heard from other EU member states, the Baltic countries and Poland, who are near Russia, about just how existential it is to their future to be confronted by a destructive and aggressive force which above everything else wants to undermine democracy.

In defending themselves they are not being warlike, and Ireland must and will support Europe in helping them protect the basic values of freedom and democracy.

Defence, military and security capability is an issue we can no longer shy away from. We have to get serious about defending our critical interests.

We have to be able to monitor and protect the maritime infrastructure such as cables and gas pipelines without which our modern economy cannot function.

We have to be able to address the security of our public and private cyber networks.

We don’t get to sit on the sidelines.

Getting serious about protecting ourselves and our values is a core part of how we shape a strong future for Ireland as part of the European Union.”

That"s the best yet!

something from KNDS France confirming that talks are happening about buying into the Scorpion family:

https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/exclusive-ireland-could-soon-purchase-french-armored-vehicles-following-belgiums-camo-model

Allons enfant de la patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé
L'étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils et vos compagnesAux armes, citoyens (formez)
Vos bataillons
Marchons, oui, marchons
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons
Sillons
Ouh ouh

Just as a thought process, assuming we went with “no changes common fit out” would that potentially signal the possibility of the Javelin being replaced with the Ankeron when they end of life if we went with the Jaguar?

Edit: Also might this show the way forward for the secondary mounts for the navy?