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Ireland can “no longer shy away from” defence, military and security capability and has to “get serious” about defending its “critical interests," Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
That was the first paragraph of an Irish Times report which drew on words from the Taoiseach at a dinner hosted by Cork Chamber last week.
Defence of the Republic and indeed those "critical interests" has been on the table of successive Irish governments. There is a so-called "white paper" on said table. Much of the island's defense requirements are still on paper. Meanwhile, the world is looking like a more dangerous place by the day.
It has reached a point where the Prime Minister of Canada has warned (he was caught on a hot mic) that the President of the United States is serious about actually annexing the world's second largest country.
Martin's remarks, according to the Times report, come amid the increased focus on defence within the EU and growing apprehension about the Trump administration’s attitude towards European security.
Added the report: "The Defence Forces is currently below its target strength in terms of number of personnel and lacks several capabilities common in European countries of a similar size to Ireland.
"The Government has committed to significantly increasing investment in defence, including delivering enhanced radar capacity to monitor Ireland’s air space and prioritising the regeneration and growth of the Naval Service."
Mr. Martin attended a meeting of EU leaders on Monday, where European defence and security were high on the agenda, the report stated.
Mr. Martin said of that meeting that it “addressed three critical issues of relations with the United States, relations with the United Kingdom and the defence of democracy in Europe."
He added: “In each of these areas Ireland cannot stand to the side as an observer, and I signalled my determination that the Government I lead will be active, constructive and effective in working with our partners in Europe.
"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.”
Mr. Martin, according to the Times account, said Ireland has “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.”
While Martin's remarks highlight the need for Ireland to increase its defense capabilities, it is understood they are not intended to signal any change to Ireland’s stance of military neutrality, the Times report said.
That neutrality is mainly seen in terms of Ireland not being a member of NATO, as were Sweden and Finland before Russia invaded Ukraine and prompted a move into NATO's embrace by both Stockholm and Helsinki.
But even as neutrals, both those countries had military ability significant enough to make a possible attacker think twice.
Ireland currently lacks any significant deterrence on land, sea and in the air. Martin and his government are trying to move beyond this lack of teeth as Russian ships prowl the seas around the island, and Russian aircraft buzz the skies.
But it will not be easy and it will not be cheap, and a real defense capability will have to extend well beyond mere monitoring.
Ireland, simply put, doesn't have enough navy ships and not even sufficient crew members to sail the ships it has. It lacks air defense capability above 10,000 feet and has no jet interceptors. In overall terms the total number of personnel in the three full time branches, Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is a little over 7,500. The government is targeting 11,500, but that will require significant effort, not least financially.
Those serving in the branches are well trained, professional and well equipped for certain operational levels. But not all levels. They need to see the cavalry, figuratively speaking, charging over the hill.
