Great to be in Irish Naval Service Haulbowline to attend the naming and commissioning ceremony for L.É. Aoibhinn and L.É. Gobnait, the newest additions to our fleet. Fair winds and following seas to all who sail in them! ⚓️🛟 🇮🇪 Óglaigh na hÉireann Micheál Martin

.Irish Naval Service is operating at just 66% of its agreed strength, putting increased pressure on staff a parliamentary report has found. data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/… It notes that had Defence spending kept up with other Govt depts in the last decade, it would be around €1.55 Bn today

The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) has warned that chronic understaffing in the Defence Forces must be addressed rte.ie/news/ireland/2…

Disappointing to see Sunday Times describe UNIFIL as “an employment creation scheme for otherwise underused Irish soldiers”. Tell that to the families of the 47 Irish soldiers who have paid the ultimate price in Lebanon since 1978. Absolutely shameful from The Sunday Times Ireland.

The 125th Infantry Battalion 126 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL UNIFIL under the command of Lt Col Shane Rockett is being reviewed today in Custume Barracks, Athlone by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin. Good luck to all Óglaigh na hÉireann members who will deploy in the coming weeks.

Delighted to hear the Tánaiste confirm that the cost of family reunion flights, agreed between the DF representative associations and Department of Defence through the implementation of the Working Time Directive, will be afforded to the 125 Inf Bn once leave restrictions are lifted.

🗣“we are sitting ducks” states Cathal Berry in relation to Irish Defence. 🗣Rebroadcast tonight at 22:00 on RTÉ News Channel and at 23:05 on RTÉ One #RTETWIP

This week in Brussels RACO & pdforra jointly hosted an enjoyable social evening with 8 of our Irish MEPs, as well as colleagues from EUROPEAN TRADE UNIONS, EUROMIL and @IrishMilRep. It was a fantastic opportunity to open important lines of communication with key stakeholders. 1/3

Uniformed services members seeking pension reform rte.ie/news/business/… A survey of members of Garda Info, Irish Prison Service, Óglaigh na hÉireann and Dublin Fire Brigade has found high levels of concern over changes to pension entitlements introduced for those who joined after 2013. 1/3

My piece in the The Sunday Times Ireland on the need for the next government to prioritise Defence and Security for all of our citizens. Defence should be a national competence, and is a public good, vital for the strength & health of our economy. Óglaigh na hÉireann Department of Defence Department of Public Expenditure

The Winter edition of Signal is available here👇🏻 calameo.com/read/006194269… It features: 🇪🇺Brussels MEP engagement 🗣️RACO ADC 2024 🇺🇳UNIFIL Report 👷🏻‍♂️DF engineering 📡New SD Radio System Insights from Declan Daly 🛩️ Barry👨‍⚖️ John Minihan 🪖 Ray Lane 💣 And lots more!

“It is increasingly clear that across a range of areas the public sector is unable to attract people with necessary skills or hold them once they are fully trained. Defence Forces are one such example…higher pay rates may be warranted.” irishtimes.com/business/econo… Department of Defence

RACO Statement on the removal of the blanket exemption from the Working Time Directive for the Defence Forces: A game changer for DF morale and a watershed moment in our efforts to boost welfare and retention and make Óglaigh na hÉireann an attractive employer of choice.

“RACO President Lt Col Martin Ryan: Recruitment and retention initiatives that RACO have been advocating for the past number of years are as important now as they ever were in stabilising and growing the Defence Forces”. This will enable future missions. rte.ie/news/2025/0222…

A privilege to be in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, home of an Chéad Cath, where Private Billy Kedian will be honoured with a posthumous Distinguished Service Medal with Honour in tribute to his heroism and bravery, presented to his family by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris TD

A special day for the 100th Cadet Class and 12th Potential Officer Class as they receive their commissions as Officers in the Óglaigh na hÉireann from Simon Harris TD. Congratulations to all of them, their families, and their instructors, and best of luck in their future careers.

The new Irish Coast Guard helicopter operator has been banned from transporting patients on stretchers in their newly leased aircraft as they are not compliant with safety regulations Passengers must be placed sitting up & secured in one of the seats independent.ie/irish-news/new…

Pleased to speak on representation, rights & reform within the 🇮🇪 military context at the 14th Seminar for Legal Advisors of the Armed Forces in Galway Bay Hotel this week. Congrats to ISMLLW team on a very well organised and interesting event. Óglaigh na hÉireann Department of Defence

Absolute ill informed waffle from Mr Bord Snip. Wheeled out every few years whenever the Óglaigh na hÉireann looks like it might get the bare minimum of investment. About the only accurate part of his argument related to % of GDP (that 0.25% is one 20th of 5%). Top class economics 😙

Great to meet former RACO member and current member of the ARCO Ireland executive Comdt (retd.) Ken Sheehan at the Youghal AC half marathon! Good performance for a pensioner!