Defence & Security

Since the foundation of the modern Irish State in 1922, the Irish Defence Forces worked to secure our national territory, and conducted mandated peacekeeping missions abroad; a contribution of which we are rightly proud as a nation.

Today, the defence and security challenges facing Ireland are becoming more complex and diverse, and we are not funding our institutions sufficiently to handle them. The Defence Forces carry out a wide range of roles for the State. As the international security environment grows ever more precarious it is the Defence Forces that will carry out Ireland’s overseas peace-keeping missions. Ensuring they are adequately equipped for the task must be a central pillar of policy.

Leaving things as they are will leave the Defence Forces unable to effectively conduct defence and security operations within the State, and likely require a reduced commitment to international peace support, crisis management, and humanitarian operations due to capacity constraints.

Our Defence and Security Priorities are

• Maintaining Ireland’s neutrality
• Investing in the Defence Forces to ensure sustainable funding levels, and enhancing recruitment and retention strategies
• Addressing the issues around pay and conditions faced by Defence Forces personnel.
• Equipping the Defence Forces with the systems and technologies required to effectively carry out national defence
• Reconfiguring the Department of Defence as the Department of Defence, Security and Emergency Planning
• Establishing a Veterans’ Commissioner and Veterans’ Support Office, and enhancing veteran services

Find Out More

You can read more about our policies and plans in our Defence & Security policy document, linked below.