Tag Archives: Irish Defence Forces

Eight individuals have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 13.5 to 20 years for their roles in attempting to smuggle over two tonnes of cocaine valued at more than €157 million. The case stems from a large-scale joint operation conducted in September 2023 by Irish police, customs officials, and the Defence Forces. The seizure marks the largest cocaine haul …

The Irish Cabinet has granted approval to begin drafting legislation that would prohibit trade in goods originating from territories occupied by Israel. The initiative, introduced by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, marks a renewed legislative effort aimed at aligning Ireland’s trade practices with its human rights commitments in foreign policy. The proposed legislation will now advance to …

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has initiated a formal investigation into the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, focusing on the use of personal data from European Union users in training its artificial intelligence system, Grok. This inquiry aims to assess whether X’s practices align with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), particularly concerning the lawful and …

Ireland’s traditional “triple lock” mechanism requires three approvals before deploying more than 12 Defence Forces personnel overseas: authorization from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), approval by the Government, and endorsement by Dáil Éireann. However, the Government is proposing to amend this mechanism by removing the necessity for UNSC authorization. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is set to …

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has directed officials in the Department of Defence to develop a more ambitious and proactive approach to modernising Ireland’s military capabilities. This enhanced procurement strategy will focus on securing new assets such as radar and sonar systems, along with the introduction of interceptor jets — a major upgrade to Ireland’s air and maritime …

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris plans to propose an amendment to Ireland’s ‘triple lock’ mechanism governing the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. Currently, this system requires three approvals: a United Nations mandate, Government consent, and Dáil Éireann authorization for deploying more than 12 troops. The proposed Defence (Amendment) Bill aims to remove the necessity for a UN …

The Irish Defence Forces experienced growth in 2024, marking the first increase in seven years, with personnel numbers reaching approximately 7,500 across the Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps. This expansion is attributed to the induction of 708 new members, a 69% rise compared to the previous year. Despite this progress, only 5% of the new recruits were women, highlighting …