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Information about Irish Defence Forces

Óglaigh na hÉireann
Irish Defence Forces
Military manpower
Military age17 years of age
Availabilitymales age 17-49: 977,092 females age 17-49: 978,465 (2005 est.) [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html]
Fit for military servicemales age 17-49: 814,768 females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)
active troops10,500
Military expenditures
Dollar figure$1.3 billion (FY00/07)
Percent of GDP0.7% (FY00/07)
The Irish Defence Forces encompass the army, navy, air force and reserve forces of the Republic of Ireland. Their official title in Irish is Óglaigh na hÉireann. The President of Ireland is the formal Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, but in practice they answer to the Irish Government via the Minister for Defence. The Defence Forces consist of the:

Role

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.

History

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. This title is also used by the Provisional IRA and a number of smaller militant groups, for the same reason. Some members of the Irish Government, including Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, have objected to this usage [1].

Army

Main article: Irish Army
Today approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army[2] (13,000 in the army reserve). 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. Since 1989 the Irish Defence Forces have adopted the Steyr AUG Assault Rifle as the Personnel Standard Weapon,which fires 5.56mm NATO Rounds.

Air Corps

Main article: Irish Air Corps
At present the Irish Air Corps is unable to fulfill the role of an air force in defending Irish airspace. This has been removed from its remit as has SAR (search and rescue) which is carried out by privately flown Department of the Marine Sikorskys. However the Air Corps fulfills many other important roles that the State needs. The Air Corps HQ is at Baldonnel Airdrome. The Air Corps is the smallest of the branches of the Defence Forces with approximately 939 personnel.

The primary roles of the Air Corps are now defined as:
  1. In support of the Army
  2. In support of 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[3] 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.

Naval Service

Main article: Irish Naval Service
The Naval Service has the difficult task of not only policing Irish territorial waters but also the Irish box which is an immense area of sea in which fishing is restricted 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 maintains highly trained armed boarding parties that can seize a vessel if necessary. All of the naval vessels are armed with enough fire-power to enforce their policing roles.

Due to Ireland's geographical location the Naval Service does not need to possess large warships or carriers since they would be of little use and Ireland's defence policy is realistic to the security threats posed to Ireland. The Naval Service maintains a complement of about 1,144 personnel.

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
The Navy has eight offshore patrol vessels:

See also

External links

Footnotes

1. ^ The Permanent Defence Forces (of Ireland) are the standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces, and are sometimes referred to as the PDF, the P.D.F. and the Permanent Forces.
2. ^ The Reserve Defence Forces (of Ireland) are sometimes referred to as the RDF, the R.D.F., the Reserve Forces and the Reserves.
3. ^ The two maritime patrol aircraft are CASA CN-235; see the table at Irish Air Corps#Aircraft for more information.


  •  • [ e] Irish Defence Forces
Irish Army | Irish Naval Service | Irish Air Corps
Army Reserve | Naval Service Reserve
An army (from Latin armata "act of arming" via Old French armée), in the broadest sense, is the land-based armed forces of a nation. It may also include other branches of the military such as an air force.
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navy is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare (marines) namely lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions.
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air force, in some countries called an air army, is a military or armed service that primarily conducts aerial warfare. It typically consists of a combination of fighters, bombers, helicopters, transport planes and other aircraft.
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Anthem
Amhrán na bhFiann  
The Soldier's Song


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Irish}}} 
Writing system: Latin (Irish variant) 
Official status
Official language of: Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland
European Union
Regulated by: Foras na Gaeilge
Language codes
ISO 639-1: ga
ISO 639-2: gle
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For the paramilitary organization formed in 2006, see .


Óglaigh na hÉireann (old orthography Óglaiġ na h-Éireann, IPA:
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President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) [uːəxt̪ˠəɾaːn̪ˠ n̪ˠə heːɼən̪ˠ] is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland.
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The Government (Irish: Rialtas) [ral̪ˠt̪ˠəs̪ˠ n̪ˠə heːɼən̪ˠ] is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in the Republic of Ireland.
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The Minister for Defence (Irish: Aire Cosanta) is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Irish Government. The current Minister for Defence is Willie O'Dea, TD; he is assisted by Minister of State Tom Kitt, TD.
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The Irish Army (Irish: Arm na hÉireann) is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces[1] (Óglaigh na hÉireann). It was first formed in 1922 after the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the subsequent foundation of the Irish Free State.
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The Irish Naval Service (in Irish: Seirbhís Chabhlaigh na hÉireann or just An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh for "the Naval Service") is the navy of the Republic of Ireland and is one of the three standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces[1]
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Irish Air Corps (in Irish: Aer Chór na hÉireann) provides the air defence function of Oglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish Defence Forces)[1], in support of the Army and Naval Service, together with such other roles as may be assigned by the Government (e.g.
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The Reserve Defence Forces is the title given to the reserve components of the Irish Defence Forces[1]. It comprises of the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
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The Army Reserve (Irish: Cúltaca an Airm), formerly known as An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ), is the reserve force of the Irish Army. It is a part-time, fully voluntary organisation, and is one of two elements of the Reserve Defence Forces of the Defence
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The Naval Service Reserve (NSR; Irish: Cúltaca na Seirbhíse Cabhlaigh) is the reserve force of the Irish Naval Service. It is one of two elements of the Reserve Defence Forces of the Defence Forces of Ireland, the other element being the Army Reserve.
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“EU” redirects here. For other uses, see EU (disambiguation).


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Allied powers:
 Soviet Union
 United States
 United Kingdom
 China
 France
...et al. Axis powers:
 Germany
 Japan
 Italy
...et al.
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Headquarters
(and largest city)
Official languages Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Membership 192 member states
Leaders
 -  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Establishment
 - 
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Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace."[1]. Peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict areas and assist ex-combatants in implementing the peace
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Garda Síochána na hÉireann

Garda Síochána na hÉireann area
Coverage
Area Republic of Ireland
Size 70,273 km²
Population 4,239,848
Operations
Formed 1922
HQ Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin

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Police are agents or agencies empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimate use of force. The term is most commonly associated with police departments of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a
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“EU” redirects here. For other uses, see EU (disambiguation).


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For the late 18th century Volunteers, see .


The Irish Volunteers (Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann
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Irish Republican Army (IRA) (Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann), sometimes known later as the Old IRA, was a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers which was recognised in 1919 by Dáil Éireann as the legitimate
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Irish War of Independence, also known as the Anglo-Irish War or the Tan War[4] (Irish: Cogadh na Saoirse or Cogadh Angla-Éireannach
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927. It was formed by the merger of the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself having been a merger of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland) and the Kingdom of
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Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) (1922–1937) was the state comprising the twenty-six of Ireland's thirty-two counties that were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Anglo-Irish Treaty
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For the paramilitary organization formed in 2006, see .


Óglaigh na hÉireann (old orthography Óglaiġ na h-Éireann, IPA:
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Provisional Irish Republican Army (Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann) (IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the Army or the 'RA.
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The Irish Army (Irish: Arm na hÉireann) is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces[1] (Óglaigh na hÉireann). It was first formed in 1922 after the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the subsequent foundation of the Irish Free State.
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