Sinn Féin spokesperson on Defence, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has raised with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, the crisis in the Defence Forces due to the ongoing neglect by government and has called on the Tánaiste to ensure that Ireland has a Defence Forces that is fit for purpose.
Speaking in the Dáil, Teachta Ó Laoghaire said:
“Tánaiste, we have heard a lot about defence spending in recent times.
“The truth on the ground though, is that our Defence Forces are in a precarious position, because of government underfunding.
“We currently have less than 8,000 in the permanent defence forces, well below establishment, not to mind the 11,000 recommended, under stage two of the Commission on Future of Defence Forces.
“Morale is appallingly low. Do you regret the neglect of the Defence Forces by your government? How do you intend to ensure that we have a Defence Forces that is fit for purpose?
“In recent weeks, we have heard a lot of big speeches and announcements, lofty promises and big commitments.
“I welcome that the Defence Forces are finally getting some attention. I live in a city with a large number of Defence Forces personnel, between Collins Barracks and Haulbowline and in talking to them, they have heard this all before.
“They have heard big talk and small follow through. The reality is big speeches won’t put boots inside the barracks door, only proper resourcing and resolving the terms and conditions and income of Defence Forces personnel will do that.
“The men and women of the Defence Forces deserve better than what they have seen from the last government.
“The previous Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, kept on giving defence money back to the exchequer unspent – €30million in 2024, €70m in 2023 and €70m in 2022.
“We also see more than 900 people recruited to the Defence Forces since 2020 left within five years.
“We’ve had the embarrassing situation where ships have been put to sea with no functioning main gun because of a lack of specialist staff to deliver that.
“Our Defence Forces are effectively at rock bottom in terms of morale and seriously struggling in terms of recruitment and retention.”
