Does the Irish army do much to defend Ireland?

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:21pm #1

Don't want to blackguard the army but really I have not much understanding of what they actually do?

I'm not really interested in UN peacekeeping.

I'll ask the question this way: If we lost the guards overnight there would be anarchy, what would happen if we lost the Army?

maxwell smart · 19-02-2016 6:23pm

What would happen if we lost the Army?

We'd have to get the UK army / airforce to come and help us look for them I imagine?

Lights On · 19-02-2016 6:24pm

Have you seen the new Mad Max movie? That would happen.

billie1b · 19-02-2016 6:25pm

There would be 12,000 or so more people on the dole and the rest of us would continue our daily lives as normal. They dont really do anything for Ireland

ssshhh123 · 19-02-2016 6:26pm

Just the army or the defence forces? They do atca Ie flooding gorse fires snow. Atcp is the escorts. Port laoise prison. Maratime patrols. Eod bomb clearance. Just to name a few

Junkyard Tom · 19-02-2016 6:26pm

Defend Ireland from what?

jimgoose · 19-02-2016 6:27pm

Lights On wrote: »

Have you seen the new Mad Max movie? That would happen.

'Twould, and quare live-lah. I'm actually the chap played by Hugh Keays-Byrne in that docu-drama, except I'm not anything like as old as him. Gowls!!

Nodin · 19-02-2016 6:27pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

Don't want to blackguard the army but really I have not much understanding of what they actually do?

I'm not really interested in UN peacekeeping.

I'll ask the question this way: If we lost the guards overnight there would be anarchy, what would happen if we lost the Army?

Jokes at our expense, I'd say. Personally I wouldn't fancy slogging over the curragh with a flashlight trying to find them.

Sheep Lover · 19-02-2016 6:27pm

They'd raid the National Armory of its two shotguns and 5 hurls, jump into the ATV (Army Transit Van) and ready themselves to defend the country.

hmmm · 19-02-2016 6:27pm

The Irish army has spent most of its existence protecting the State from internal threats e.g. the IRA and their offshoots - that's why you see army protection of cash delivery vans.

They might not be needed just right now, but I'd hate to think that if we ever got rid of them we'd be almost defenseless against armed Republicans.

unjedilike · 19-02-2016 6:28pm

Junkyard Tom wrote:

Defend Ireland from what?

The Vikings, of course

Buona Fortuna · 19-02-2016 6:28pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

Don't want to blackguard the army but really I have not much understanding of what they actually do?

I'm not really interested in UN peacekeeping.

I'll ask the question this way: If we lost the guards overnight there would be anarchy, what would happen if we lost the Army?

Are they not protecting Ireland by making a safer world that we all live in.

Despite your indifference to peacekeeping isn't there a certain amount of self interest in carrying them out?

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:29pm

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Defend Ireland from what?

Terrorists both domestic and foreign, criminals? Do they assist or is this completely a matter for the police?

Or do they serve any social benefit like i guess if there is a national weather emergency like flooding they help out sometimes?

Take the question: What happens if they just disappeared oversight?

maxwell smart · 19-02-2016 6:32pm

billie1b wrote: »

There would be 12,000 or so more people on the dole and the rest of us would continue our daily lives as normal. They dont really do anything for Ireland

So what your saying is that instead of taxpayers money bring used to pay for their basic pay, overtime, equipment, general upkeep etc (2015 estimate €885m pa) you would suggest they all go on the dole (average of, say, €250 each per week = €156m pa)????

Is that what you are suggesting? That we would save €729m??

have you spoke to Enda or Joan about this one? They might be interested!

Gerry and Mary Lou certainly would!!

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:36pm

When was the last time any one Irish said, "thank god for our Army" or "if it hadn't been for the army I don't know what would have happened"?

maudgonner · 19-02-2016 6:38pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

When was the last time any one Irish said, "thank god for our Army" or "if it hadn't been for the army I don't know what would have happened"?

During the floods I'd imagine.

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:39pm

maudgonner wrote: »

During the floods I'd imagine.

that's what id imagine also...that's probably about it...were they employed during the floods recently?

It wasn't me! · 19-02-2016 6:41pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

When was the last time any one Irish said, "thank god for our Army" or "if it hadn't been for the army I don't know what would have happened"?

A couple of weeks ago after we spent several months with troops working 24 hours a day doing emergency support during the floods?

maudgonner · 19-02-2016 6:42pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

that's what id imagine also...that's probably about it...were they employed during the floods recently?

Yes.

(I'm sure there are many more examples, that's just from a quick Google.)

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:43pm

It wasn't me! wrote: »

A couple of weeks ago after we spent several months with troops working 24 hours a day doing emergency support during the floods?

What do they do when there isn't a national emergency and they are in the country? How many are just in their barracks ...doing

The Randy Riverbeast · 19-02-2016 6:43pm

They stop the king of England from coming into your house and pushing you around

maudgonner · 19-02-2016 6:45pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

What do they do when there isn't a national emergency and they are in the country? How many are just in their barracks ...doing

How about the recent bomb threat in Apple? The EOD team (bomb squad) were deployed to sweep and clear the building. As they are before major sporting events, visits of foreign dignitaries etc. I'm sure they had an involvement in the gangland funerals in Dublin this week.

salmocab · 19-02-2016 6:47pm

This is really an odd question regards the army, if you asked it in america people would go ape sh1t however they are as unlikely as we are to be invaded but really thats not relevant, the military has plenty of functions and has really moved on from defending the country against other countries now its more defending against terrorism and even natural forces.

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:48pm

maudgonner wrote: »

How about the recent bomb threat in Apple? The EOD team (bomb squad) were deployed to sweep and clear the building. As they are before major sporting events, visits of foreign dignitaries etc. I'm sure they had an involvement in the gangland funerals in Dublin this week.

Yeah maybe, not sure if many were actually involved though? I don't remember seeing them on the streets for any of these, maybe when the queen came but largely its the police id think.

Dots1982 · 19-02-2016 6:50pm

salmocab wrote: »

This is really an odd question regards the army, if you asked it in america people would go ape sh1t however they are as unlikely as we are to be invaded but really thats not relevant, the military has plenty of functions and has really moved on from defending the country against other countries now its more defending against terrorism and even natural forces.

I don't think its an odd question at all but then again I asked it so I would think that.

salmocab · 19-02-2016 6:53pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

I don't think its an odd question at all but then again I asked it so I would think that.

What I meant was that people think of the military from historic points of view where they were there to either attack other states or defend against invasion but that really they now have different functions in most western states.

It wasn't me! · 19-02-2016 6:54pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

What do they do when there isn't a national emergency and they are in the country? How many are just in their barracks ...doing

... doing physical training, preparation for or going on tactical exercises, refreshing of skills and learning of new skills, weapons systems, driving courses on different vehicles, 24 hour security duties across the state guarding vital interests, escorting prisoners to and from court, regular call outs to real or suspected IEDs.

This week I'll be doing over 75 hours in work, with no overtime and a 24 hour security duty bonus of about €27, bringing my total earnings to a princely €393.

maudgonner · 19-02-2016 6:57pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

Yeah maybe, not sure if many were actually involved though? I don't remember seeing them on the streets for any of these, maybe when the queen came but largely its the police id think.

The police (Gardaí) don't have a bomb squad afaik, so not sure what you're getting at here.

I used the bomb squad as an example because I happen to know a former member. The point is that until I met him I had very little idea that the unit even existed, let alone what they do. (They spend a lot of their time dealing with marine flares that wash up on our coastline, for what it's worth). I'm sure that there are many more units that have valuable roles to play that I know nothing about.

I'm sure there is a lot of waste in the Army, but that's the nature of the job in a way - they have to have spare capacity and spend a lot of time training for what might happen, because if it does happen, they need to be available to respond immediately - not spend years ramping up resources & training.

uck51js9zml2yt · 19-02-2016 6:59pm

Dots1982 wrote: »

Terrorists both domestic and foreign, criminals? Do they assist or is this completely a matter for the police?

Or do they serve any social benefit like i guess if there is a national weather emergency like flooding they help out sometimes?

Take the question: What happens if they just disappeared oversight?

They were very active in flood defences in the last few months.
They also guard cash in transit, diffuse bombs and protect us against armed terrorist groups.
There is currently a large contingent in lebenon keeping the peace and the bad guys at bay.
Over the years they have been key forces in Kosovo, Eritrea, chad, Liberia,israel and a few other African states.
They also guard the border though not as visible since the cease fire.
If they were disbanded we would be open to all sorts of threats. Having them makes the bad guys think twice!
I forgot to mention the explosives factory in a certain part of the state which they guard.

Hammer89 · 19-02-2016 7:01pm

As far as I know, they take pictures of themselves assembling machine guns that they're never, ever, ever, ever going to use and then upload them on Facebook.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 19-02-2016 7:02pm

billie1b wrote: »

There would be 12,000 or so more people on the dole and the rest of us would continue our daily lives as normal. They dont really do anything for Ireland

Well it's obvious you, and a lot of other people in this thread, haven't a clue about the roles of the Irish Army.

The EOD are called out about 150 times in 2014. About 50 of those callouts involved viable devices, designed to cause injury or death.

They escort prisoners, which, in my eyes, is a fantastic use for the military. Considering there's so few members in the ERU and armed guards in general. I believe armed Gardai (excluding the ERU) only carry pistols. Not very effective against automatic firearms.

They also provide security escort for cash transit. Another essential service as if you ask me.

Security for VIP visits.

Involved in search and rescue.

Preventing the trafficing of people, drugs and arms.

Helping with the floods.

Don't let that get in the way of a good rant though.

Does the Irish army do much to defend Ireland?

Comments