EU sanctions envoy says Ireland must 'beef up' @naval_service . The recently announced increases in #Defence capital expenditure in the NDP are most welcome and long overdue. We have the ships, but we need to attract & RETAIN the crews!. @defenceforces .

Major Defence capital projects include three C295 surveillance aircrafts (3rd due in Sept), a refit of 80 Mowag APCs, a primary radar system (due in 2028), 4 modern helicopters (the commission recommended 8), and an expansion of the naval fleet to 9 ships.

The @defenceforces has so much to offer a young person… a secure job, decent salary and endless potential for education, training and adventure. We just need to fix the Post 2023 pension, and we’re glad that the Oireachtas Defence Committee has committed to examining this!

Dramatic increase in number of Russian ‘shadow ships’ in Irish-controlled waters. ‘The Air Corps & Naval Service have stepped up their monitoring of these vessels, despite limited resources. Last week a C295 was deployed twice to track sanctioned vessels’

DF Ordnance Corps is a leader in EOD & CIED, and asymmetric counter measures like marauding terrorist attack & homemade explosives. This takes years of training & operational experience to cultivate. We must make every effort to retain these specialists.

Some more photos from a great day! Credit @naval_service Press Office. 📸 . Congrats again to S/Lt Anderson and Ens MacHale

Huge congratulations to Sub Lieutenant Oisin Anderson and Ensign Martin McHale on their commissioning as @naval_service Officers today. Well done to them, their families and their instructors. We look forward to supporting them both in their careers in the @defenceforces!

After years of underfunding, we’re seeing the gradual introduction of vital retention measures and credit is due to the hard work of the Tánaiste @SimonHarrisTD, @IRLDeptDefence and @defenceforces leadership along with the representative associations for making this happen.

RACO just concluded our recent roadshow with a visit to An Chéad Cath (1st Infantry Battalion) in Galway today. Many thanks to all members for their attendance and engagement!. See a short video below about the roadshow. 🎥👇🏻

The new initiative will augment the existing skill set of our instructors to cater for blended learning, neurodivergence & enhanced cultural awareness in order to better equip instructors to educate, train & mentor new recruits and support DF transformation. @IRLDeptDefence 2/2

📢.RACO welcomes the new Professional Instructor Payment for qualified Officer instructors, introduced by Tánaiste @SimonHarrisTD on 05 May 2025. It’s a further essential measure to incentivise & reward instruction, and boost recruitment & retention in the @defenceforces. 1/2

RT @Mairtin_81: Proud to have represented @RACO_DF at the National Day of Commemoration in RHK, Dublin yesterday, where all those that have….

RT @ConorHogarty: Let's have honest debate on security. Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, Raco General Secretary, writing in todays @irishexam….

Looking forward to engaging with the Committee on Defence & National Security tomorrow at 9:30am for Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025. More detail: Watch live from 9:30am:

‘Limited naval service patrols, stemming from a staffing crisis, and reduced air corps flights, due to a dire shortage of traffic controllers, is “significantly” affecting the ability of State agencies to monitor Irish waters and respond to threats.’.

“While previous major interdictions involved multiple warships, only one was available this time round. Military planners believed 4 helicopters would be required to guarantee success but just one was accessible – a DF helicopter assigned to an emergency air ambulance role.” 2/2.

How with minimal resources the Defence Forces carried out its most daring operation in decades . “The eventual success of the operation was all the more remarkable given the extreme constraints on the Defence Forces.” 1/2.

Great video documenting the Joint Task Force operation to interdict the MV Matthew on 26 Sep 2023. ‘This operation was the result of bravery, skill and multi-agency collaboration. It was successful in its aim to disrupt, dismantle & prosecute those involved in organised crime.’👏🏻

This podcast by @NiallJournal_ie and @LauraByrneStory from @thejournal_ie is well worth a listen, describing the complexities of the operation and its success in the face of significant challenges.