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.
His remarks come amid the increased focus on defence within the EU and growing apprehension about the Trump administration’s attitude towards European security.
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.
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Mr Martin attended a meeting of EU leaders on Monday, where European defence and security were high on the agenda.
The Taoiseach mentioned his attendance at the summit during a speech at the Cork Chamber annual dinner on Friday evening.
He said the meeting “addressed three critical issues of relations with the United States, relations with the United Kingdom and the defence of democracy in Europe”.
Mr Martin continued: “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.”
He said the subject of defence has led to the most comment in Ireland, “and we’ve seen time after time how any move whatsoever can get misrepresented”.
Mr Martin added: “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 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 his remarks highlight the need for Ireland to increase its defence capabilities, it is understood they are not intended to signal any change to Ireland’s stance of military neutrality.
Briefing material for the new Minister for Defence, Tánaiste Simon Harris, set out how meeting the Commission on Defence Forces' recommended target of 11,500 personnel by 2028 will be “challenging”.
The total strength of the Permanent Defence Forces, including Army Air Corps and Naval Service, stood at 7,557 personnel at the end of December. This is 2,182 below the current “establishment”, or agreed strength, of 9,739.
Last month, The Irish Times reported that a Naval Service vessel was forced to go on patrol without a functioning main weapons system due to a severe shortage of qualified naval ordnance technicians.
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