Long-neglected Naval Service strength 'starts to creep up'
It marks an improvement on last year when numbers dropped to a low of 719 – but security sources stress it is 'early days' in the recovery of the service. Naval Service (NS) numbers are still more than 300 short of what they should be under department levels (1,094).
And under Government plans – in line with the second Level of Ambition (LOA2) of three possible investment levels set out by the Commission on the Defence Forces (DF) in February 2022 – the establishment figure for the NS needs to reach 1,794, an increase of a further 700 people.
This means the service is currently over 1,000 personnel short of the target under the Government's plan, which has five years to run.
There were concerns on Monday when NS books showed its personnel number had dropped below 700, to 698. Inquiries revealed that numbers actually stood at 726, but that 28 personnel were in the Joint Induction Training Centre at Gormanston, so were temporarily on other DF's books.
They are expected to return in two weeks. It does mean for those two weeks they are not available for operational sea duties.
It is further understood that an additional 28 Navy personnel – which are not included in the 726 figure - are either serving overseas or in Joint appointments across the DF.
One DF source said the figures can be a bit confusing as personnel can temporarily be under books of other services in the DF, but that numbers are increasing, albeit slowly.
Official figures show that NS strength fell steadily in the last five years: 902 in 2020; 875 in 2021; 798 in 2022; 725 in 2023, hitting 719 in 2024.
Last year was the first time since 2019 when more people were inducted into the NS than were discharged (97 inducted; 75 discharged), halting the haemorrhage from the service. So far in 2025, a further 37 personnel have been inducted and are set to begin training in two weeks.
Former Army Ranger and ex-TD for Kildare, Cathal Berry, said: 'Things in the NS are starting to creep in the right direction. The increase is not as fast as we would like; really we need to get to the stage of 100-plus net increase per year.'
He said neglect had created a 'spiral' in the NS, with numbers falling dramatically in just a few years, with a lack of instructors an issue. Mr Berry said it was encouraging to have general recruits, but said the retention of skilled, experienced staff was essential.
He said the Defence Forces suffered a key issue in not having a full-time dedicated minister of defence or an empowered minister of state.
'Every EU country, bar Malta, has a full-time minister for defence, because it's an area that requires active supervision every day,' he said.
Under LOA2, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended that the fleet be increased to nine ships by 2030 and be double crewed, to allow for regular deployment and boost patrol days.
In order to achieve these aims, it estimated that 'some 700 naval personnel at an estimated annual cost of €35m' would be required.
It also called for "a minimum establishment' of 400 personnel for the NS Reserve.
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The Journal
08-07-2025
- The Journal
TD calls for 'Russian' replica sailing ship to be removed from Irish waters off Dublin
LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago Sailing ship The Shtandart opposite Dalkey Island this afternoon Eamonn Farrell / Eamonn Farrell / / THIS MORNING Irish authorities have officially contacted a controversial sail training vessel which is suspected of links to the Russian Government. The Shtandart is a replica of a ship built in 1703 by Peter the Great, a Russian Tsar – she is currently visible at anchor off the village of Killiney in south County Dublin. It was built in 1999 and sails under the flag of the Cook Islands but campaigners have claimed it is a Russian operated sail training vessel. It is understood that the Naval Service hailed the vessel this morning and asked what are its intentions. All Russian ships are banned from entering EU ports due to sanctions that were imposed on Russian vessels shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The vessel has no permission to land in Ireland. Her destination, as entered on a ship tracking system, is listed as Dundee in Scotland – she has sailed up from France. 8.7.2025 1:15pm TS Shtandart 🇨🇰 | Hawk Cliff | Killiney Bay | 🇮🇪. • View from Vico Road, Dalkey. • View from dlr Killiney Hill Park. @PhotosOfDublin — Don Sheahan (@SheahanDon) July 8, 2025 Controversy The presence of the vessel has caused some controversy and Fine Gael TD Barry Ward, who is from Dún Laoghaire, has called on the Minister Timmy Dooley, the Minister for State for the Marine, to intervene and have the ship removed. 'These EU sanctions were put in place in reaction to the appalling atrocities carried out by Vladimir Putin and his administration and if we are to be serious about their implementation, we must adhere to them. 'In recent weeks, this ship was banned from entering a number of French ports including Saint-Malo, which will be familiar to many Irish holidaymakers. Going back further, there is an extensive list of European ports that have blocked or sought to block this vessel from entering their waters. 'The formal EU sanctions against Russia are clear and while the Shtandart operates under a Cook Islands flag, this has only been the case since June 2024 and previously sailed under a Russian flag. European Union sanctions introduced a port ban on Russia-flagged vessels, and those reflagged after the invasion of Ukraine, in April 2022,' he said. Advertisement Ward said that the ship is permitted to transit through Irish waters but said there is a 'legal grey area'. 'This ship has a history of declaring false emergencies in order to gain extended access to European ports. 'This includes medical emergency declarations (which would allow it to seek safe harbour) but this must not be allowed to happen in Dún Laoghaire or Dublin. 'The European commission has specifically clarified that this vessel falls under the scope of the sanctions and these sanctions must be upheld,' he added. Ward added that he has written to the Minister and said that the captain of the ship is showing 'clear disregard for EU sanctions and this arrogance and perception of impunity cannot be permitted'. Speaking to RTE News the Captain of the vessel Vladimir Martus said that the attention his ship was facing was 'unfair'. 'We are against what Putin is doing and nobody on this ship has ever expressed support for Russia. 'The Shtandart is simply a replica vessel. We are not a Russian vessel. Shtandart is, and always has been, dedicated to education, heritage, and human connection. We are a homeless child in European waters, and we are fighting for survival,' he told RTE. State response A statement a spokesperson for the Department of Transport confirmed it was monitoring the ship 'on an administrative basis' to ensure it is in compliance with EU's 'restrictive measures against Russia'. 'The Department is aware of the movements of the vessel known as Shtandart. It should be noted that the vessel has not entered a pre-arrival notice for entry into an Irish port which is required under EU regulations. 'From the information available to the Department through third party sources it is understood that the vessel was previous registered under the Russian flag and would fall under the restrictive measures. 'The Department of Transport has been in contact with ports under its remit on the east coast (Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort) to remind them of their responsibilities under EU Council Regulation 833/2014 and the prohibition on providing access to Russian registered vessels to Irish ports and locks. 'This prohibition also applies to vessels that have changed their flag or their registration from the Russian Federation to the flag or register of any other State after 24 February 2022,' the Statement said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 8th: On equipping the Defence Forces, Botox, and replacing the president
Sir, – Conor Gallagher's gripping account of Operation Piano captures not only the most audacious Irish Defence Forces mission in decades, but also a quiet truth: Irish sailors, soldiers and Air Corps crews perform extraordinary feats despite systemic neglect (' Hizbullah and Iran suspected of involvement in MV Matthew smuggling operation ,' July 5th.) The daring interdiction of the MV Matthew amid Storm Agnes – with Army Ranger Wing operators rappelling on to a moving vessel in heavy swells, a lone helicopter pressed into service, and a single Naval Service ship shouldering the entire mission – should have been impossible. That it succeeded is testament to the skill, courage and sheer determination of those involved. Yet this triumph must not blind us to the wider reality. These are forces running on fumes: unable to put more than one ship to sea at a time, reliant on overstretched crews, battling chronic equipment, and recruitment and retention crises. READ MORE Ireland's neighbours know it. So, too, do malign actors, from drug cartels to Russian surveillance ships lurking near undersea cables vital to the global economy. Operation Piano should not just be a proud moment; it is a chance to inspire a new generation to serve. But recruitment campaigns must be matched by serious investment: competitive pay, modern equipment and political commitment. And let's be clear: building a modern, capable military does not compromise Ireland's traditional neutrality – and it shouldn't. This is not an 'either/or' choice; it's an 'and'. The success of this mission should galvanise a grown-up conversation about Ireland's place in an increasingly dangerous world. – Yours, etc, DAVID SWEENEY, Washington DC, United States. University fees increase proposal Sir, – I'm writing as a 51-year-old mother of three, full-time worker, taxpayer and voter, to express my deep frustration and disappointment at the Government's plan to increase third-level college fees back up to €3,000. Like so many others in my generation, we have raised our children without a modicum of State support beyond the basic children's allowance. We paid full whack for everything: childcare, creche, GP visits, dentists, school books, uniforms – you name it. There was no Early Childgood Care and Education scheme when we needed it, no free GP care, no tax reliefs worth mentioning. We paid full stamp duty on our first home, we've paid PRSI and USC since it was introduced, and we've continued to pay high income taxes throughout. We didn't qualify for any grants. No Susi. No back-to-school allowance. No medical card. Nothing. And we didn't complain – we worked hard and got on with it, trusting that at some point we'd see a bit of recognition or support. That recognition finally came in the form of the ¤1,000 reduction in college fees. It was the only tangible help we've received in 22 years of raising children. And now, just as quickly, it's being taken away. We have two children in college right now. We pay for everything – fees, rent, food, transport – and we are doing it on after-tax income with no financial assistance. It is demoralising in the extreme to be told, in effect, that once again our cohort doesn't matter. We've done everything 'right' by the State and have been left holding the bag at every stage of our parenting journey. I urge the Government to seriously reconsider the reversal of this small but meaningful relief. For many of us, this isn't just about money – it's about fairness, dignity, and the principle that people who have contributed so much to this country should not be punished for quietly getting on with things without ever asking for help. I speak not just for myself, but for countless friends, colleagues, and neighbours who feel just as let down. – Yours, etc, ANNE KEANE, Cork. Sir, – How many actual, or potential, university students spent far more than the previously allowed €1,000 reduction in fees that is not being given this year on holidays in Spain or Greece this summer? – Yours, etc, EAMONN DILLON, Farranshone, Co Limerick. Awarding HSE contracts Sir, – I find it troubling to reconcile the recent revelations concerning the HSE, specifically, that current and former employees have acted as directors of a limited company engaged in multimillion euro contracts with the very organisation they serve or once served. Having spent years in the private sector, I can perhaps just about understand how ex-employees might find themselves in such a position, though even that raises questions. But the notion that active employees of the HSE could be involved in awarding or benefiting from such contracts is, quite frankly, inconceivable. This situation raises an obvious and urgent question: were those responsible for managing these tenders, whether within the HSE or acting as its agents, fully aware of the employment relationships involved? If not, why not? If they were, even more serious concerns arise. In an era when regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and fitness and probity have been significantly tightened, it is difficult to imagine how these transactions could meet the standards required of public bodies. A full, independent inquiry is not just warranted, it is essential. – Yours etc, DAVID CASSIDY, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Turner, take a bow Sir, – I dislike cartoons largely because they leave me unmoved. Your cartoon (July 5th), about environmental damage jumped off the page for me. Martyn Turner, take a bow for grabbing my attention and telling me so persuasively about costs to the exchequer, the planet and US workers' predicament, no less. – Yours,etc, BERNADETTE BARRINGTON, Dublin 12. Mission impossible Sir, – After President Michael D Higgins vacates the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann I suggest the position be stood down as a suitable candidate to replace him is an impossibility. – Yours, etc, DEREK HENRY CARR, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. Sir, – In order to alleviate the lethargic approach to our upcoming presidential election, why don't we do what they did in the US and vote for a monarch? – Yours, etc, DAVID CLEERE, Co Wexford. Nurses and injecting Botox Sir, – In response to the recent letter claiming that nurses are authorised to independently administer botulinum toxin under the direction of a doctor, I must clarify the legal position. On one point, we can agree: the law has not changed (Letters, July 4th). Under current Irish law, botulinum toxin-classified as a prescription-only medicine (POM) – may only be prescribed and administered by a registered medical doctor or dentist. A nurse may administer toxin only after a doctor has conducted a face-to-face consultation, assessed the patient, and formally delegated the procedure to a staff nurse within their clinical team. This is not equivalent to autonomous practice. Botox is not a cosmetic product – it is a potent neuromodulator requiring clinical oversight. In cases of adverse events such as infection, anaphylaxis, or ptosis (drooping eyelid), timely intervention with prescription medication is critical. Only a qualified prescriber can provide this level of care. Ireland, unlike many of our EU counterparts, continues to allow ambiguity in this sector. Most European countries sensibly restrict aesthetic medical procedures to doctors and dentists and formally recognise aesthetic medicine as a medical speciality. We would do well to follow their example to protect patient safety and professional standards. – Yours, etc, Dr SEAN FITZPATRICK, President of the Irish College of Aesthetic Medicine, Dublin. Sir, – On the basis that nurses are trusted by medical systems in a variety of crucial roles from ICU decision-making to palliative care, Christina O'Rourke (Letters, July 4th) suggests there is 'no valid reason to restrict' them from injecting Botox into people. I'd argue there may be. A Google search of the term 'most lethal substance' immediately identifies this toxin of Clostridium botulinum as the lead in this regard. A Wikipedia search of 'median lethal dose' puts Botox at 1 nanogram/Kg. So, given that five grams of the substance, if distributed frugally, could kill all of humanity perhaps the case to allow its more widespread injection should be more nuanced? – Yours, etc, BRIAN O'BRIEN, Co Cork. Hpat and all that Sir, – It could be argued that Carl O'Brien provides a well balanced assessment of the relative merits and demerits of private tuition for the Health Professions Admission Test (' Hpat: Can students be 'coached' to pass aptitude tests for entry to medical school? ,' July 4th). At the end of the article, I was wondering with some trepidation, whether or not I would 'pass the Hpat' so I attempted the three questions. I was much relieved there were no issues with the first and third questions, but I was left scratching my head on checking the answer to question two. Maybe my level of interpersonal understanding isn't all I thought it was. – Yours, etc, Dr MICHAEL MULHERN, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Sir, – Brenda Morgan writes (July 4th) that as a teacher she would value neat handwriting and other factors over any extra test such as the Hpat in selecting doctors. Were this truly a requirement for entry to medical school, it is likely that only a tiny minority of current doctors would have been admitted (myself included). – Yours, etc, Dr DAVID VAUGHAN, Mornington, Meath. Sir, – Carl O'Brien's very interesting piece on the Hpat test for admission of students to Irish medical schools omits one important reason for the introduction of that test in 2009; ie to try to weight the gender balance more in favour of male students who were faring less well than females in the traditional exam-based selection process. Has it succeeded in that aim? Or has it, as Prof Hyland predicted, merely contributed to the grinds industry? – Yours, etc, CELIA KEENAN, Dublin. Sir, – While a discussion about the relative weighting of the Hpat is welcome, people have forgotten about the situation before its introduction. At that time, it was not unusual for students to complete two, three, or even four Leaving Certificates to reach the required points. As well as the waste of the students' time, the ability to pay for the extra tuition in the grind schools was only for people with money. The use of points only also made the prospect of random selection much more common, as is being seen in other degree courses now. There is no perfect medical school admission test. How can any test predict the ability of the many roles of a doctor? An interview, even if semi-structured, has obvious potential biases and would certainly create a new industry to prepare students for this, too. The Hpat tests abilities other than rote learning. It is not ideal, but it has reduced the number of students taking multiple Leaving Certificates. The number of free sample questions it produces is limited, and certainly, these could be increased to allow everyone more pre-test practice. By all means, reduce its importance in the selection process, but it should not be discontinued. – Yours, etc, KEVIN DUNNE, (Retired consultant), Galway. Why have any nuclear arms? Sir, – May I be so bold as to ask why certain countries such as America, India, Israel, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, North Korea and Pakistan are allowed nuclear arms without question and others such as Iran are totally forbidden to have them? Is this not total hypocrisy and putting other countries at a disadvantage? Is it not fairer to ban nuclear arms from all countries? – Yours, etc, MAGGIE FITZGERALD, Killiney, Co Dublin. Airport set down enforcement Sir, – Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, Friday, July 4th: an entire lane of the constricted roadway at the departures set-down area is blocked by motorists sitting there to collect arriving passengers. Constant announcements bark that 'this is a set-down area only', but the waiting motorists, cocooned in their cars, know that the airport police will not disturb them. Maybe Dublin Airport cannot exercise the authority to enforce its own traffic bylaws when it refuses to accept capacity restrictions imposed by national planning laws? – Yours, etc, DAVID LOUGHLIN, Dublin 6. Support your local seagulls Sir – Des Boyle in complaining about seagulls (Letters, July 7th) states that they are 'vermin' and as such should be culled or exterminated for his convenience. For his information seagulls are not vermin and like any other creatures are entitled to live and raise their young free from the selfish entitlement of humans. Had humans not destroyed their natural habitat and decimated their food sources, they would not be forced to live in cities and scavenge for a living. Rather than exterminating seagulls, humans should work to restore their habitat and food sources and we would all, humans and birds, be the better for it. – Yours, etc, HUGH PIERCE, Celbridge, Co Kildare. No rocket science Sir, – Is it not feasible that with a little accommodation, change of bylaw if required, a solution can be found for residents wishing to charge their EV outside their homes. A concrete saw operator, and an electrician and a means to connect from the gully adjacent to the footpath. It's not rocket science. – Yours, etc, STANLEY WHITE, Delgany, Co Wicklow.
RTÉ News
01-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Cttee hears Triple Lock dilutes Ireland's sovereignty
An Oireachtas committee has heard that the Triple Lock dilutes Ireland's sovereignty and undermines the UN Charter. The Joint Committee on Defence and National Security is debating the legislation that would remove the need for UN approval when deploying more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 would remove the Triple Lock when they are serving as part of an international force. Former TD Cathal Berry, a former army ranger, said that the Triple Lock "absolutely" dilutes Ireland's sovereignty. He said that, currently, Ireland is giving some of its "democratic power" to "kings and queens and authoritarian rulers and wannabe dictators all over the world". The UN Charter encourages regional oversight of peacekeeping which, he said, the Triple Lock undermines. Major General Maureen O'Brien (Retired) said that when she was selecting from the 119 nations which contribute to UN forces, whether a country was neutral or had a Triple Lock was "never a consideration". It is seen only as a "national issue". Major General O'Brien deployed overseas nine times, eight times with the UN. She led a multinational force of 1,100 that oversaw a ceasefire between Israel and Syria and said that impartiality was essential in dealing with both sides. From UN headquarters she oversaw all peacekeeping deployments. She told the committee that the Triple Lock prevents Ireland from deciding where to deploy its peace troops. "We cannot make our own decisions. We are dependent on five countries telling us whether we can deploy. I think that reduces our sovereignty. And perhaps our neutrality as well," she said. "12 troops isn't enough to do anything," she said. "You need at least 50 people." General Kieran Brennan (Retired) said he supports the proposed changes to the Triple Lock, as countries such as Gaza, Ukraine and Congo are crying out for peacekeepers. "No, I've no reservations," he replied, when asked if he had concerns over there being sufficient safeguards in the legislation. Colonel Colm Doyle (Retired) said that Ireland has the longest unbroken record "of any nation" for sending troops on UN peacekeeping missions, something he described as "noble". He said that claims that changes to the Triple Lock would undermine neutrality were "greatly misjudged". The UNSC is flawed, he said, as Ireland's participation on peacekeeping "can effectively be held hostage" by any permanent member of the security council. Labour TD Duncan Smith cautioned against Ireland turning its back on the UN which is greatly weakened. Major General O'Brien told the committee that when a country provides personnel to the UN, it must sign a Statement of Unit Requirements. This is a contractual agreement covering finances and all conditions of the troops' deployment. For Irish personnel, the statement always includes a provision that military command and control remains with the Irish unit at all times.
