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|---|
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| Military age | 17 years of age
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Availability
| males age 15-49: 1,029,525 (2004 est.)
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Fit for military service
| males age 15-49: 827,811 (2004 est.)
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Reaching military age annually
| males: 30,083
(2004 est.)
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| Dollar figure | $700 million (FY00/01)
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| Percent of GDP | 0.9% (FY00/01)
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The are the army, navy and air force of the
Republic Of Ireland .
Their official title is '', meaning (in
English ), "Volunteers of Ireland". The
President Of Ireland is the formal commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces, but in practice they answer to the
Irish Government via the
Minister For Defence . The Defence Forces consist of the:
]]
The Republic of Ireland's favourable geographical location, on the north-west border of the
European Union , makes any external threat or future invasion unlikely. The state has a long-standing policy of non-belligerence in armed conflicts that included neutrality in
World War II . For these reasons, the Republic's military capacity is relatively modest. However, the state has a long history of involvement in
United Nations Peace-keeping operations. Functions of the Defence Forces include:
- Preparation for the defence of the state against armed attack.
- Assisting the Garda Síochána ( Police force), including the protection of the internal security of the state.
- Peace-keeping, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations.
- Policing the fisheries, in accordance with the state's obligations under European Union agreements.
- Miscellaneous civil contingency duties requested by the Government such as search and rescue, air ambulance provision, providing secure air transport for ministers, assistance in the event of natural and other disasters, ensuring the maintenance of essential services, and assisting in dealing with oil pollution at sea.
The Defence Forces trace their origins to the
Irish Volunteers founded in 1913. This organisation was succeeded in 1919 by the
Irish Republican Army (IRA), the guerrilla organisation that fought the
Anglo-Irish War against the government of the
United Kingdom which is more popularly known as the War of Independence. Shortly after the creation of the
Irish Free State in 1922, the IRA was officially succeeded by the modern Defence Forces. The Irish title ''
Óglaigh Na HÉireann '', that had previously been used by both the Irish Volunteers and the IRA, was kept by the Defence Forces. Today this title is also claimed by the
Provisional IRA and a number of smaller militant groups for the same reason. The Defence Forces strongly object to this usage
{Link without Title} .
Today approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Army. The country is divided into three areas for administrative and operational reasons, and in each area there is an infantry Brigade.
In addition to the Brigades Structure, there is also a Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), a Logistic Base in the Curragh and a number of special establishments such as the Equitation School, Army Bands, and the Army Ranger Wing. In the case of Corps which support the Infantry, a Corps Director and staff are provided to coordinate the purchase of specialised equipment, the execution of specialised training, etc.
The three brigade group structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades. One has primary responsibility for operational tasks in the border area, the second for operational tasks in the greater Dublin and Leinster area and the third for operational tasks in Munster and part of the Connacht area. Practical operational considerations dictate the requirement to outline operational areas of responsibility. The brigade group structure is based on strengthened combat and combat support elements and streamlined combat service support elements.
At present the Irish Air Corps is unable to fulfill the role of an air force in defending Irish arispace. This has been removed from it's remit as has SAR (search and rescue) which is carried out by privately flown Department of the Marine Sikorskys. However the Air Corps is extremely adaptable and fulfills many other important roles that the State needs. The Air Corps HQ is at Baldonnel Airdrome.
The primary roles of the Air Corps are now defined as follows:
1-In support if the army
2-In support if the Naval Service
3-In aid to the Civil Power
There are two secondary roles:
1-Aid to Civil Community
2-Aid to Government departments
The Air Corps two maritime patrol aircraft are equipped with state of the art detection systems and assist the Naval Service in policing Irish territorial waters, the Air Corps has been instrumental in many of the successful interceptions at sea. These aircraft are also used for HALO (High-Altitute, Low-Opening) parachuting by the elite Army Ranger Wing
The Naval Service has the difficult task of not only policing Irish territorial waters but also the Irish box which is an emense area of sea in which fishing is restircted in order to preserve numbers, the Naval Service is tasked with enforcing this EU protected area and thus serves the EU as well as Ireland.
There have been a number of interceptions of vessels carrying narcotics to and from Ireland, these have involved co-operation with the Air Corps and Coast Guard. The Naval Service mainitains highly trained armed boarding parties that can sieze a vessel if necessary. All eight naval vessels are armed with enough fire-power that their policing roles require.
Due to Irelands' geographical location the Naval Service does not need to pocess warships or carriers since they would be of little use and Ireland's defence policy is realistic to the security threats posed to Ireland.
Roles:
1-Fishery Protection
2-Aid to the Civil Power
3-Drug Interdiction
4-Maritime Safety
5-Diving Operations
6-Pollution Control
7-Overseas Mission Support
