View source for Defence Forces (Ireland)

{{Short description|Combined military forces of Ireland}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox national military
| name = Defence Forces
| native_name = {{lang|ga|Fórsaí Cosanta}}<br />{{lang|ga|Óglaigh na hÉireann}}
| image = Badge of the Irish Defence Forces.svg
| alt = 
| caption = [[Irish Defence Forces cap badge|Badge of the Defence Forces]]
| image2 = 
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| motto = 
| founded = {{Start date|1924|10|01|df=yes}}
| current_form = 
| disbanded = 
| branches = {{tree list}}
*{{Army|Ireland}}
*{{Air force|Ireland}}
*{{Navy|Ireland}}
*[[Reserve Defence Forces]]
**[[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]]
**[[Naval Service Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| headquarters = [[McKee Barracks|DFHQ McKee Barracks, Dublin]]
| website = {{Official website|https://www.military.ie/en/#1}}
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Michael D. Higgins]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[President of Ireland|Supreme Commander]]
| chief minister = 
| chief minister_title = 
| minister = [[Simon Harris]]
| minister_title = [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]]
| commander = [[Lieutenant General]] Rossa Mulcahy<ref>https://www.military.ie/en/defence-forces-board/chief-of-staff/</ref>
| commander_title = [[Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces (Ireland)|Chief of Staff]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 18–39 (as of 2025)<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.military.ie/en/careers/army-careers/army-recruit/ | publisher = Irish Defence Forces | website = military.ie | title = Army Recruits | accessdate = 1 February 2025 | quote = Applicants must be 18 years of age and under 39 years of age }}</ref>
| conscription = No
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 
| available = 
| available_f = 
| fit = 
| fit_f = 
| reaching = 
| reaching_f = 
| active = 7,557 <small>(Establishment: 9,739; December 2024)</small><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41563492.html | work = Irish Examiner | first = Cormac | last = O'Keeffe | title = Many EU nations in 'full war preparation mode', raising pressure on Irish neutrality | date = 29 January 2025 | accessdate = 1 February 2025 }}</ref>
| ranked = 
| reserve = 1,720 <small>(Establishment: 4,069; Aug 2024)</small><ref name="writtenAnswersRDF">{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2024-10-17/question/9/|publisher=Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Hansard)|title=Defence Forces - Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 Oct 2024 - Written Answers|date=17 October 2024|quote=As of 31 August 2024, the effective strength of the Second Line Reserve stood at 1,553, which consists of 1,456 Army Reserve personnel and 97 Naval Service Reserve personnel. On the same date, the strength of the First Line Reserve stood at 167 personnel  }}</ref>
| deployed = 428 troops, 17 missions (as of March 2025), including:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-03-19/233/ | title=United Nations – Wednesday, 19 Mar 2025 – Parliamentary Questions (34th Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas }}</ref>
*{{flag|Lebanon}} ([[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] 347 personnel)
<!-- Financial -->| amount = €1.5bn (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.military.ie/en/news-and-events/news/defence-forces-chief-of-staff-welcomes-historic-increase-in-defence-budget.html |website= Military.ie |language=en |title=Defence Forces Chief of Staff welcomes historic increase in Defence budget }}</ref>
| percent_GDP = 0.23% (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIPRI Military Expenditure Database {{!}} SIPRI |url=https://www.sipri.org/databases/milex |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.sipri.org |language=en}}</ref>
| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers = 
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = 
| ranks = [[Irish Defence Forces rank insignia|Military ranks of Ireland]]
}}

The '''Defence Forces''' ({{langx|ga|Fórsaí Cosanta}},<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.acts.ie/ga.act.1937.0041.1.html|title=Defence Forces Act, 1937|work=Acts of the Oireachtas|quote={{lang|ga|...cialluíonn an abairt 'na Fórsaí Cosanta' na Fórsaí agus an Cúltaca.}} (...the expression 'the Defence Forces' means the Forces and the Reserve.)|access-date=7 November 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111650/http://www.acts.ie/ga.act.1937.0041.1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> officially styled {{lang|ga|[[Óglaigh na hÉireann]]}})<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1954/en/act/pub/0018/sec0016.html|title=Defence Act, 1954|quote=It shall be lawful for the Government to raise, train, equip, arm, pay and maintain defence forces to be called and known as {{lang|ga|Óglaigh na hÉireann}} or (in English) the Defence Forces.|access-date=26 October 2013|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190455/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1954/en/act/pub/0018/sec0016.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Bunreacht na hÉireann: a study of the Irish text|author=Micheál Ó Cearúil|publisher=Stationery Office|location=Dublin|year=1999|page=189|quote='The Defence Forces' are officially styled by the Army itself as {{lang|ga|Óglaigh na hÉireann}} in Irish, as against {{lang|ga|na Fórsaí Cosanta}}.|url=https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/Bunreacht%20na%20hEireann%20-%20Study%20of%20the%20Irish%20Text.pdf|access-date=26 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055829/https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/Bunreacht%20na%20hEireann%20-%20Study%20of%20the%20Irish%20Text.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref group="Note">{{lang|ga|Óglaigh na hÉireann}} derives its origins from the [[Irish Volunteers]]. Whilst the Irish for ''Defence Forces'' is {{lang|ga|Fórsaí Cosanta}}, as Ó Cearúil (1999) points out, the Defence Forces are officially styled {{lang|ga|Óglaigh na hÉireann}}. {{lang|ga|Fórsaí Cosanta}} is used in other contexts (e.g. {{lang|ga|Rialacháin Fhórsaí Cosanta}} is ''Defence Force Regulations'') as well as having a defined meaning in legislation.</ref> are the [[military|armed forces]] of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. They encompass the [[Irish Army|Army]], [[Irish Air Corps|Air Corps]], [[Irish Naval Service|Naval Service]], and [[Reserve Defence Forces]].

The Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces is the [[President of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.ie/role-of-the-president/|title=Official President.ie site - Roles of the President|publisher=Áras an Uachtaráin|access-date=23 December 2014|archive-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219142508/http://www.president.ie/role-of-the-president/|url-status=live}}</ref> All Defence Forces officers hold their [[commission (document)|commission]] from the President, but in practice, the [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]] acts on the President's behalf and reports to the [[Government of Ireland]]. The Minister for Defence is advised by the Council of Defence on the business of the [[Department of Defence (Ireland)|Department of Defence]].<ref name="statute">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1924/en/act/pub/0016/print.html|title=Statute Book - Ministers And Secretaries Act, 1924|quote=the Minister for Defence ... shall be assisted by a Council of Defence|access-date=23 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211043511/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1924/en/act/pub/0016/print.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of December 2023, there were 7,550 permanent personnel in the Defence Forces out of an established strength of 9,500,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF">{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-01-23/157/?|title=Defence Forces – Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024 - Written Answers}}</ref> a decrease from September 2020 when there were 8,529 personnel, comprising 6,878 Army, 752 Air Corps and 899 Naval Service personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-17 |title=Defence Forces Strength – Tuesday, 17 Nov 2020 – Parliamentary Questions (33rd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-11-17/42 |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}}</ref> As of August 2024, there were also 1,720 personnel in the Reserve Defence Force out of an established strength of 4,069.<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/>

== Role ==
The Irish state has [[Irish neutrality|a long-standing policy]] of [[non-belligerence]] in armed conflicts, including [[Irish neutrality during World War II|neutrality in World War II]]. Ireland's military capabilities are modest. However, the state has a long history of involvement in [[United Nations peacekeeping]] operations. Functions of the Defence Forces include:

*Preparation for the defence of the state against armed attack.
*Assisting the police force, the [[Garda Síochána]], including the protection of the internal security of the state.
*Peacekeeping, 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.ie/info-centre/what-we-do/|title=What We Do|work=military.ie|access-date=23 February 2014|archive-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116102220/http://www.military.ie/info-centre/what-we-do/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Irish_Army#History|l1=History of the Irish Army}}

The Defence Forces trace their origins to the [[Irish Volunteers]], founded in 1913. Their official [[Irish language|Irish-language]] title, [[Óglaigh na hÉireann]], is taken from the equivalent Irish-language title of the Irish Volunteers, as are their [[cap badge]] and the buttons worn on ceremonial uniforms (the buttons are still marked with the initials "IV").<ref name="pictorial">{{cite journal |year=2012 |title=A Pictorial History of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Defence Forces of Ireland |journal=Booklet |page=15 |publisher=Irish Defence Forces |asin=B00AEH38JE |url=http://www.smashwords.com/books/download/261660/1/latest/0/0/a-pictorial-history-of-oglaigh-na-heireann-the-defence-forces-of-ireland.pdf |access-date=17 March 2013 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044816/http://www.smashwords.com/books/download/261660/1/latest/0/0/a-pictorial-history-of-oglaigh-na-heireann-the-defence-forces-of-ireland.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Irish Volunteers were central to the [[Easter Rising]] staged in April 1916. After the rising, the Volunteers gave allegiance to the [[First Dáil]], the parliament of the [[revolutionary republic|revolutionary]] [[Irish Republic]]. At this time, the Volunteers became known as the [[Irish Republican Army (1917-1922)|Irish Republican Army]] (IRA). From 1919 onwards, the IRA waged a [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] campaign against [[British rule in Ireland]] that is now known as the [[Irish War of Independence|War of Independence]].

A [[Irish War of Independence#Truce: July–December 1921|truce in July 1921]] brought hostilities to an end; the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] was signed on 6 December. The [[Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|Provisional Government]] was then constituted on 14 January 1922. The IRA was divided between those who accepted the decision of the Dáil in ratifying the Treaty and those who did not: consequently, both [[civil war]] and re-occupation by the British became possible.<ref name="The Defence Forces">{{cite web |url= https://www.military.ie/en/public-information/defence-forces-museums/defence-forces-history/history-of-the-army/history-of-the-army.html |title= Defence Forces History: History of the Army |access-date= 10 February 2020 |archive-date= 27 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200427081616/https://www.military.ie/en/public-information/defence-forces-museums/defence-forces-history/history-of-the-army/history-of-the-army.html |url-status= live }}</ref> In February 1922, the pro-treaty IRA became the  [[National Army (Ireland)|National Army]] of the Irish Free State.<ref name="The Defence Forces" /> With declining relations between the remaining units of the [[Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)|anti-treaty IRA]] and the newly recruited pro-treaty National Army, the [[Irish Civil War]] broke out on 28 June 1922. It ended in victory for the National Army when, on 24 May 1923, the anti-treaty [[IRA Chief of Staff]], [[Frank Aiken]] ordered his volunteers to dump arms.<ref name="The Defence Forces" />

On 3 August 1923 the new state passed the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, raising "an armed force to be called Oglaigh na hEireann {{sic}} (hereinafter referred to as the Forces) consisting of such number of [[officer (armed forces)|officers]], [[non-commissioned officers]], and men as may from time to time be provided by the [[Oireachtas]] the new parliament of the Irish Free State."<ref name="DEFENCE FORCES (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, 1923">{{cite web|url=http://acts.oireachtas.ie/en.act.1923.0030.1.html|title=Number 30/1923: DEFENCE FORCES (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, 1923|access-date=23 December 2014|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721130253/http://acts.oireachtas.ie/en.act.1923.0030.1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Forces were established on 1 October 1924.<ref name="The Defence Forces" />

The state was officially neutral during [[World War II]] but declared an [[The Emergency (Ireland)|official state of emergency]] on 2 September 1939, and the Army was mobilised. As the Emergency progressed, more and newer equipment was purchased for the rapidly expanding force from Britain and the United States as well as some manufactured at home. For the duration of the Emergency, Ireland, while formally neutral, tacitly supported the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] in several ways.<ref name="Fanning">Fanning, R., 1983, Independent Ireland, Dublin: Helicon, Ltd.., pp 124–25</ref> Allied aircraft were allowed to access the [[Atlantic Ocean]] via the [[Donegal Corridor]]. German military personnel were interned in the [[Curragh Camp|Curragh]] along with the belligerent powers' servicemen, whereas Allied airmen and sailors who crashed in Ireland were very often repatriated, usually by secretly moving them across the border to [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name="Fanning"/> [[G2 (Republic of Ireland)|G2]], the Army's intelligence section, played a vital role in the detection and arrest of German spies, such as [[Hermann Görtz]].

In September 1946, the Naval Service was established as Ireland's maritime force and as a permanent component of the Defence Forces.

Ireland became a member of the [[United Nations]] in 1955. The first contribution to peacekeeping was in 1958 when Army officers were assigned to the [[United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon]] (UNOGIL). Since 1958 the Defence Forces have had a continuous presence on armed [[United Nations peacekeeping]] operations, except between May 1974 to May 1978 (although they did retain overseas unarmed observer missions during this period). The first armed peacekeeping mission was to the [[Operation des Nations Unies au Congo|Operation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC)]] in 1960. During the ONUC mission, a company from the Irish Army were involved in a [[Siege of Jadotville|battle at Jadotville]], in which the Irish held out against a larger Katangese force. A memorial to Irish personnel who served as United Nations peacekeepers was unveiled in 2009 in the town of [[Fermoy]], recording that there was a total of ninety Irish fatalities while on active service with the UN until that date.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/memorial-honours-irish-soldiers-who-died-on-un-duty-103128.html|title=Memorial honours Irish soldiers who died on UN duty|last=English|first=Eoin|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=26 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226200526/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/memorial-honours-irish-soldiers-who-died-on-un-duty-103128.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[the Troubles]], the period of civil conflict centred on [[Northern Ireland]] from 1969 to 1998, the Defence Forces deployed to aid the Garda Síochána. Troops were deployed for duty to [[Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border|the border]] areas, new border military posts were established, and in 1973 new permanent border units were established.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} In 1969-70, there were proposals considered for a limited military intervention in Northern Ireland to protect the nationalist community, known as [[Exercise Armageddon]], but it was seen to be unworkable and was not adopted by the cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/no-longer-standing-idly-by-irish-army-contingency-plans-1969-70/ |title=History Ireland |date=6 March 2013 |publisher=History Ireland |access-date=2015-06-20}}</ref> Although units were moved to the border region in 1969–70 during the [[Battle of the Bogside]], in order to provide medical support to those wounded in the fighting.<ref>Ireland: Being and Belonging page 131</ref> In 1974, troops were deployed to maximum-security prisons in [[Portlaoise Prison|Portlaoise]] and [[Limerick Prison|Limerick]] where IRA prisoners were detained. Armed troops were deployed in 1976 to all major post offices during a three-month national bank strike.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} In 1978, [[cash-in-transit]] escorts were established to protect large cash movements throughout the state, continuing until 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1129/663536-cash-in-transit-escort/|title=Armed escorts for cash-in-transit journeys withdrawn|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[RTÉ]]|date=2014-11-29|access-date=2024-12-21}}</ref> The [[Central Bank of Ireland]] had the Government put in place contingency plans to provide armed Defence Force security for major Irish banks over public order fears if a cash shortage was triggered at the height of the 2008/2009 financial crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/get-army-ready-to-protect-banks-central-banks-warning-to-taoiseach-during-crisis-30782109.html|title=Get army ready to protect banks: Central Bank's warning to Taoiseach during crisis|work=Irish Independent|date=28 November 2014}}</ref> Tasks in [[military aid to the civil power]] continue today, but no longer to the same degree or intensity.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

== Funding and development ==
{{See also|List of countries in Europe by military expenditures}}

In 2020, the Irish defence budget was €1.04bn. This included €780m on defence and €259m on army pensions.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher = Houses of the Oireachtas |date=2019-11-07 |title=Budget 2020 – Thursday, 7 Nov 2019 – Parliamentary Questions (32nd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-11-07/34 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}}</ref> Department of Defence spending was 0.27% of GDP in 2020 and 0.29% in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) |url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debateRecord/dail/2019-10-10/debate/mul@/main.pdf |page=758}}</ref>

In 2022, the defence sector budget was €1.1bn and in July of that year the Irish government announced plans to increase this to €1.5bn by 2028. As part of the plans to move to "Level of Action 2", as of 2022, the number of civil and military personnel was set to be increased from 9,500 to 11,500. Planning also began for improvements in radar capabilities.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-12 |title=Largest ever increase in defence budget agreed by Government |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/largest-ever-increase-in-defence-budget-agreed-by-government/41835918.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The Defence Forces specified the procurement of an integrated radar system for land, sea and air function and that the Army's structures and capabilities would be redesigned to meet "international best practice". The plan also proposed the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs to design a Reserve Defence Forces "regeneration plan".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Forces Chief of Staff welcomes historic increase in Defence budget |url=https://www.military.ie/en/news-and-events/news/defence-forces-chief-of-staff-welcomes-historic-increase-in-defence-budget.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.military.ie |language=en}}</ref> 

The projected budget for 2024 was €1.5bn, including an extra €21m over previous expenditure and €34m in capital expenditure on top of the original capital ceiling of the National Development Plan.<ref>{{Cite web|title= DEFENCE FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF WELCOMES HISTORIC INCREASE IN DEFENCE BUDGET| url= https://www.military.ie/en/news-and-events/news/defence-forces-chief-of-staff-welcomes-historic-increase-in-defence-budget.html |website=Military.ie |language=en}}</ref> This also included budget for an additional 400 enlisted personnel during 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher = Houses of the Oireachtas |date=2024-01-23 |title=Defence Forces – Tuesday, 23 Jan 2024 – Parliamentary Questions (33rd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-01-23/52 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Department of Public Expenditure |first=And Reform |date=March 21, 2025 |title=DPER Databank |url=https://databank.per.gov.ie/Expenditure.aspx?rep=NetVA}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Defence expenditure 1999–2019 as a percentage of GDP<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |date=2021-02-25 |title=Defence Forces Expenditure – Thursday, 25 Feb 2021 – Parliamentary Questions (33rd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2021-02-25/147 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}}</ref>
|-
!Year
!Defence expenditure €m
!Gross Domestic Product €m
!Expenditure as % of GDP
|-
|1999
|760
|92,669
|0.82%
|-
|2000
|820
|108,400
|0.76%
|-
|2001
|731
|122,010
|0.60%
|-
|2002
|725
|135,956
|0.53%
|-
|2003
|711
|145,534
|0.49%
|-
|2004
|733
|156,189
|0.47%
|-
|2005
|759
|170,231
|0.45%
|-
|2006
|772
|184,914
|0.42%
|-
|2007
|817
|197,130
|0.41%
|-
|2008
|880
|187,620
|0.47%
|-
|2009
|804
|169,786
|0.47%
|-
|2010
|744
|167,674
|0.44%
|-
|2011
|704
|170,951
|0.41%
|-
|2012
|657
|175,104
|0.38%
|-
|2013
|667
|179,616
|0.37%
|-
|2014
|673
|195,148
|0.34%
|-
|2015
|671
|262,853
|0.26%
|-
|2016
|671
|270,809
|0.25%
|-
|2017
|681
|300,387
|0.23%
|-
|2018
|701
|326,986
|0.21%
|-
|2019
|756
|356,051
|0.21%
|-
|2020
|781
|
|
|-
|2021
|755
|
|
|-
|2022
|802
|
|
|-
|2023
|872
|
|
|-
|2024
|908
|
|
|-
|2025
|995
|
|
|}

== Organisation ==
{{Main|Structure of the Irish Defence Forces}}

The Defence Forces are organised under the [[Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces|Chief of Staff]], supported by Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, and the Deputy Chief of Staff Support.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.military.ie/en/the-general-staff/ |title=Defence Forces - Info Centre - The General Staff |publisher=Defence Forces |access-date=15 July 2019 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715090405/https://www.military.ie/en/the-general-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They consist of a Permanent Defence Force (PDF), which is a [[standing army|standing]] force and provides the main capability for military operations, and the [[Reserve Defence Forces]] (RDF),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/how-we-are-organised/|title=Defence Forces - Info Centre - How we are organised |publisher=Defence Forces |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141208155452/http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/how-we-are-organised/ |archive-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> [[military reserve forces]] which support the PDF if necessary. The PDF is organised into three service branches: the [[Irish Army|Army]], the [[Irish Naval Service|Naval Service]], and the [[Irish Air Corps|Air Corps]]. The RDF may be further subdivided into a First Line Reserve (FLR) and a Second Line Reserve; the First Line Reserve comprises former members of the Permanent Defence Force, while the Second Line Reserve comprises an [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]] and a [[Naval Service Reserve]] (both recruited directly from the civilian population).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.military.ie/en/reserve/ |title= Defence Forces - Reserve |access-date= 24 December 2014 |archive-date= 16 January 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150116022908/http://www.military.ie/en/reserve/ |url-status= live }}</ref> A reorganization of the RDF in 2013, referred to as the "single force concept", has resulted in units of the RDF being embedded within units of the PDF, rather than existing entirely in parallel as a separate reserve force; this moves away from the traditional approach of the RDF being considered a fourth service branch of the Defence Forces.

In January 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the establishment of an 'Information Command', under the command of a general, to handle cyberattacks and misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/state-to-be-advised-to-establish-military-cyber-command-1.4789385|title = State to be advised to establish military cyber command| newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref>

===Army===
{{Main article|Irish Army}}

[[File:Best 15 (11419866795).jpg|thumb|An Irish Army [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]] [[Mowag Piranha]] Close Reconnaissance Vehicle on [[United Nations|UN]] patrol in [[Syria]]]]

As of December 2023, the Army had approximately 6,136 active personnel,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> with 1,351 personnel in the [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]].<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/> Up to late 2012 the army had three [[brigade]]s: 1 Southern, 2 Eastern and 4 Western; in 2012, [[4th Brigade (Ireland)|4 Western Brigade]] stood down at its HQ Custume Barracks, Athlone. The state is now divided into two Brigade areas for administrative and operational reasons, with the former 4 Western Brigade split between the other two brigades.  In addition to the brigade structure, there is also the Defence Forces Training Centre, a logistics base in the [[Curragh Camp|Curragh]].

The two-brigade structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades. The [[1st Brigade (Ireland)|1st Brigade]] has primary responsibility for operational tasks in the southern region, while the [[2nd Brigade (Ireland)|2nd Brigade]] leads on operational tasks in the eastern and western regions.  Practical operational considerations dictate the requirement to outline operational areas of responsibility. The brigade structure is based on strengthened [[combat]] and [[combat support|combat-support]] elements, together with streamlined [[combat service support|combat-service-support]] elements.

The Army has nine specialist [[corps]], each designated as either combat, combat support or combat service support. These are the [[Infantry Corps (Ireland)|Infantry Corps]], [[Artillery Corps (Ireland)|Artillery Corps]], [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]], [[Engineer Corps (Ireland)|Engineer Corps]], [[Ordnance Corps (Ireland)|Ordnance Corps]], [[Medical Corps (Ireland)|Medical Corps]], [[Transport Corps (Ireland)|Transport Corps]], [[Military Police Corps (Ireland)|Military Police Corps]], and the [[Communications and Information Services Corps]]. 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, and other necessary activities.

Irish infantry are equipped with [[assault rifle]]s, [[machine gun]]s, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[hand grenade]]s, and [[anti-tank weapon]]s. Most weapons used by their defence forces follow [[NATO]] standards and are purchased from abroad, with Ireland having a very limited arms industry. The Army has light armoured vehicles, with the primary vehicle being the [[MOWAG Piranha]], armed with machine guns. Its [[artillery]] capabilities consist of 120mm mortars and towed 105mm light guns.

The [[Army Ranger Wing]] (ARW) are the [[special forces]] of Ireland. They are based at the Curragh.

===Air Corps===
{{Main article|Irish Air Corps}}

[[File:Irish Air Corps AgustaWestland AW-139 Lofting.jpg|thumb|Irish Air Corps [[AgustaWestland AW139]] helicopter]]

The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces. Its HQ is at [[Casement Aerodrome|Casement (Baldonnel) Aerodrome]]. The Air Corps is the smallest of the branches of the Defence Forces, with approximately 689 personnel,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> and its primary roles are defined as:
#Support of the Army
#Support of the Naval Service
#[[Military aid to the civil power|Aid to the civil power]]

There are two secondary roles:
#[[Military aid to the civil community|Aid to the civil community]]
#Aid to government departments

The Air Corps provides support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as the [[Emergency Aeromedical Service|Emergency Aeromedical (air ambulance) Service]], VIP transport, and [[search and rescue]] (in support of [[Irish Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] search and rescue efforts). The Air Corps is unable to provide the traditional air force role of defending Irish airspace as it has no [[fighter aircraft]].

The Air Corps has two [[EADS CASA C-295|Airbus C295]] maritime patrol aircraft equipped with detection systems to assist the Naval Service in patrolling Ireland's territorial waters and [[exclusive economic zone]]. These aircraft are also used for [[high-altitude military parachuting|high-altitude, low-opening parachuting]] by the Army's ARW. The Air Corps has six [[AgustaWestland AW139]] [[utility helicopter]]s capable of being armed with [[FN MAG]] machine guns. These are used in support of the ARW, Naval Service and [[Garda Síochána]] operations, and are the only helicopters within the state capable of flying at night in mountain terrain using [[night vision|night-vision]] technology. The eight [[Pilatus PC-9]] turboprop trainers can be equipped with [[rocket pod]]s and machine guns, and two [[Eurocopter EC135]] light utility helicopters (which can be used as sniper platforms by the ARW) are used for training pilots and for air-ambulance missions.

The Air Corps conducted over 130 maritime surveillance patrol flights in 2019, and provided medical support to the [[Health Service Executive|HSE]] for patients by conducting over 233 [[Emergency Aeromedical Service]] missions and 32 inter-hospital air ambulance transfers.<ref name="PRbranch2019">{{Cite web|url=https://military.ie/en/member's-area/members-area-files/pr_branch_infographic_13dec_final_no_trim.pdf|title=Internal Communications Digest December 2019|website=Military.ie|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111140408/https://military.ie/en/member%27s-area/members-area-files/pr_branch_infographic_13dec_final_no_trim.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Naval Service===
{{Main article|Irish Naval Service}}

[[File:LE ROISIN P51.jpg|thumb|Naval Service vessel {{LÉ|Róisín|P51|6}}]]

The Naval Service maintains a complement of approximately 725 active personnel<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> and 97 reserve personnel<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/> and is tasked with patrolling Irish [[territorial waters]] as well as the [[Irish Conservation Box]], a large area of sea in which fishing is restricted to preserve fish numbers. It is tasked with enforcing this [[European Union|European-Union-protected]] area and thus serves the EU as well as Ireland.<ref name="navyroles">{{cite web|url=http://military.ie/naval/roles/index.htm |title=Organisation - Naval Service - Defence Forces |access-date=23 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126060051/http://military.ie/naval/roles/index.htm |archive-date=26 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> Together with the [[Irish Air Corps|Air Corps]] and [[Office of the Revenue Commissioners|Customs]], it has intercepted a number of vessels carrying narcotics to and from Ireland.<ref>* {{cite web |title=Department of Defence – Drug Seizures |url=http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2010-06-02.1113.0 |access-date=17 March 2011 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713150248/http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2010-06-02.1113.0 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web|title=Navy tracking system to crack down on drugs smuggling|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/navy-tracking-system-to-crack-down-on-drugs-smuggling-127354.html|publisher=Irish Examiner|author=Juno McEnroe|date=9 August 2010|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060809/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/navy-tracking-system-to-crack-down-on-drugs-smuggling-127354.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=Drug Offences|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/drug_offences.html|publisher=Citizen's Information Board|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930073412/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/drug_offences.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Naval Service has six patrol vessels (2xP50, 4xP60) which are operated in support of the service's primary roles, inflatable seagoing craft, and training vessels. It maintains highly-trained armed [[boarding party|boarding parties]] that can seize a vessel if necessary. In 2019, for example, there were approximately 780 boarding operations and 12 vessels were detained .<ref name="PRbranch2019"/> The service's specialised diving unit is the [[Naval Service Diving Section]].

The primary role is defined as "National Security", with secondary roles which include:<ref name="navyroles"/>
# Fishery protection
# Aid to the civil power
# Drug interdiction
# Maritime safety
# Diving operations
# Pollution control
# Overseas mission support

===Reserve Defence Forces===
{{Main article|Reserve Defence Forces}}

The [[Reserve Defence Forces]] (RDF) in its current form was established in October 2005 and comprises the First Line Reserve, [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]] (AR) and [[Naval Service Reserve]] (NSR). The RDF is a part-time, voluntary component of the Defence Forces in peacetime, supporting the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) in its domestic roles and training alongside its professional full-time colleagues as part of the "Single Force Concept" whereby RDF units are integrated with their PDF counterparts, coming under the one command. As of August 2024, there were 1,720 reservists out of an established strength of 4,096, consisting of 167 in the First Line Reserve, 1,456 in the Army Reserve, and 97 in the Naval Service Reserve.<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/>

==Representative associations==
The interests of members of the Defence Forces are represented by a number of representative associations, similar to [[trade union]]s (which Irish military personnel are banned from joining). [[Officer (armed forces)|Officers]] of the PDF are represented by the [[Representative Association of Commissioned Officers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raco.ie/|title=Website of Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO)|author=LtCdr Phil Watson|access-date=23 December 2014|archive-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224035142/http://raco.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Other ranks (UK)|Rank-and-file members]] of the PDF are represented by the [[Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association]] (PDFORRA), which is affiliated to the [[Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations]] and to the European Organisation of Military Associations, [[EUROMIL]]. In 2009, members of PDFORRA took part in an [[Irish Congress of Trade Unions]] protest against the government's handling of the [[post-2008 Irish economic downturn]], at which time the [[Department of Defence (Ireland)|Department of Defence]] warned that Defence Forces members could not take part in or sponsor any "public agitation", and that PDFORRA had "no express permission" for members to take part in the protests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qqqm=news-qqqid=39783-qqqx=1.asp|title=Talks under way to avert strikes|date=22 February 2009|access-date=23 February 2009|work=[[The Sunday Business Post]]}}</ref> All ranks of the RDF are represented by the [[Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association]] (RDFRA).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rdfra.ie |title= Website of Reserve Defence Force Representative Associations |access-date= 24 December 2014 |archive-date= 18 December 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141218034313/http://rdfra.ie/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

Complaints concerning and made by serving and former members of the Defence Forces can be investigated by the independent [[Ombudsman for the Defence Forces|Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces]] (ODF), in cases where internal grievance procedures within the DF have been exhausted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Role and Function of The Ombudsman|url=http://www.odf.ie/aboutus/|publisher=Ombudsman for the Defence Forces|access-date=5 May 2016|archive-date=2 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202140746/http://odf.ie/aboutus/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Bases==
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 120831-D-VO565-008.jpg|thumb|Ceremony at [[Cathal Brugha Barracks]] in Dublin]]
{{see also|List of Irish military installations}}
The Defence Forces operate a number of [[military base]]s:

{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Location
|-
|[[Defence Forces Headquarters]] (DFHQ)
|[[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]]
|-
|[[Aiken Barracks]]
|[[Dundalk]]
|-
|[[Casement Aerodrome]]
|[[Baldonnel, Ireland|Baldonnel]]
|-
|[[Cathal Brugha Barracks]]
|[[Rathmines]]
|-
|[[Collins Barracks, Cork|Collins Barracks]]
|[[Cork (city)|Cork]]
|-
|[[Coolmoney Camp]]
|[[Glen of Imaal]]
|-
|[[Custume Barracks]]
|[[Athlone]]
|-
|[[Curragh Camp]]
|[[Curragh]]
|-
|[[Renmore Barracks|Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa]]
|[[Galway]]
|-
|[[Finner Camp]]
|[[Ballyshannon]]
|-
|[[Gormanston Camp]]
|[[Gormanston, County Meath|Gormanston]]
|-
|[[Haulbowline|Haulbowline Naval Base]]
|[[Cork Harbour]]
|-
|[[Kilbride Camp]]
|Kilbride, County Wicklow
|-
|[[Lynch Camp]]
|[[Kilworth]]
|-
|[[McKee Barracks]]
|[[Dublin]]
|-
|[[Sarsfield Barracks]]
|[[Limerick]]
|-
|[[St Bricin's Military Hospital]]
|[[Dublin]]
|-
|[[Stephens Barracks]]
|[[Kilkenny]]
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Military awards and decorations of Ireland]]
*[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Ireland–NATO relations]]
*[[History of Ireland]]
*[[Irish neutrality]]
*[[Irish security forces]]
*[[Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen]]
*[[List of countries by military expenditures]]
*[[Irish Army deafness claims]] – a series of 17,000 personal injury claims taken by members of the Irish Defence Forces.
*[[Defence Force (disambiguation)|Defence Force]]
*[[List of wars involving the Republic of Ireland]]

==Notes==
<references group="Note" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Military of the Republic of Ireland}}
*[http://www.military.ie/ Military.ie – Official website]

{{Irish Defence Forces |state=autocollapse}}
{{Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces|state=autocollapse}}
{{Militaries of European Union member states|state=autocollapse}}
{{Military of Europe|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Military of the Republic of Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Department of Defence (Ireland)]]
[[Category:Permanent Structured Cooperation]]