Naval Service General Discussion - Fleet, Manpower, Policy

Garda will do on land support with foreign paramilitary agencies in support (or under direction of) to get around foreign military laws

The cavalry will sit 12 miles out

Air Corps and Navy will do some visibility ops, but mostly for show.

C-UAS system will be Baldonnell only, with anything else being supplied and in use by foreign agencies.

It goes without stating security and defence matters are now a 'big deal' at the EU level. Obviously the omnipresent Russian threat, the row-back of the US backstop from European security etc has fundamentally changed the threat and policy landscape. As a knock-on defence spending is now big big business - (cue the French now becoming our best of friends!!) I detect those at the senior levels in government etc are acutely aware that the tide has turned. Indeed, at the level of the informed citizen here the level of understanding and acceptance for increased spending has increased .

At the EU level tolerance for a wealthy free-loading country that 'lacks the capability to conduct a meaningful defence of the State' is narrowing esp when for others it is the old 'guns vs butter' trade-off. Indeed the potential threat for some is even existential. Taoiseach, Ministers, officials see this playing out before them. IMHO the shibboleth around neutrality (a load of cod if there was ever one) stymies our ability to have a fuller, more mature, rational discussion on these matters, especially in relation to being linked into a wider security arrangements. Instead it gets immediately bogged down in warmongering, imperialism, my son or daughter being sent to die etc …. pick your pike … The direction of travel for the European security framework is clear either via NATO or some EU arrangement. Where we fit in remains to be clarified - maybe via intermediate arrangements like the JET+ etc.

Personally I think we should join NATO or an EU equivalent, but I realise the emotional attachment to our ill defined, iterative, one-side neutrality, built on the widespread assumption that the Brits or the US etc would come to our assistance, of an era when we had scant economic or strategic interest, apart of being anti Brit (yes the same ones who would come to our assistance) - will be hard to dislodge people from.

For a combination of our own self interest, but also a desire to retain some relevance at the EU adults table means we will need to stay the course in our (modest) military investment. However, I do feel the expectations in terms of where we will end up may be higher outside the country that here. So to sum up, we will improve on where we are with some genuine game changers - primary radar etc to come on stream. However, whether the current intensity continues and if LoA 3 is the actual goal with money behind it will largely depend on the external security situation and I suppose a calculation of the risk / reward trade -off. So far to get LoA 2 up and running is taking time in the 4 years since its publication.

Update on the East Coast Base:

The Deputy may wish to note that the Department is at an advanced stage of concluding the licensing arrangements with the County Council in relation to the use of Carlisle Pier for the purposes of berthing the two Inshore Patrol Vessels, as their primary function will be to patrol the East Coast.

The proposed licence will grant use of Carlisle Pier for a period of 11 months and will be renewed on a yearly basis. It will allow for the installation of security fencing, with a 20-foot container on the licensed area for the sum of €130,000 plus VAT. The primary advantage of entering into formal legal arrangements is that it provides the Naval Service with certainty as to the availability of berthage and therefore assists in planning for operational activities.

Denmark is an example as a country of roughly the same population as Ireland of how a small country can still be fairly strong militarily.

Not really wrong, though listing the sonar systems in as paper promises is off, since we know they are being built.

Its Grand just a bit of Tec 7, a sledge and a lick of paint needed!

Quay assisted manouver.

Did LE Niamh make it back to sea after her (an actual her) mishap, last year?

Would be funny if it was the same captain.

Taken from the journal. Oh Ireland we are some outfit

Sources have said that there is no intention at present for Ireland to begin seizing ships as has happened elsewhere. It is understood the issue would be that the State has no where to store the ships long term. 

Well MV Matthew has only cost the state €13 Million so far. Maybe a sinkex leaving aside the Enviromental damage might be cheaper.