Irish Times - Recommended Defence Forces upgrades will be huge ask, says Coveney - 09 Feb 22



Recommended Defence Forces upgrades will be huge ask, says Coveney

Military representatives give commission’s reform and funding proposals cautious welcome

 Minister for Defence Simon Coveney with Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Seán Clancy addressing a press conference announcing the publication of the Commission on the Defence Forces report at the Military College, Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. Photograph: Alan Betson

Even getting to the minimum level of defence spending recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces will be a “huge ask”, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has said.

Speaking at the launch of the commission’s report on the future of the military, Mr Coveney said its recommendations were “blunt”, “hard-hitting” and very demanding of Government.

The 220-page report details a proposed overhaul of almost every aspect of the military with a view to increasing its capabilities both on the island and overseas.

It presents three “levels of ambition” (LOA) as a platform for further debate. LOA 1 would involve maintaining the status quo. This would leave Ireland unable to properly defend itself against attack and would force the Defence Forces to step back from overseas missions, it said.

LOA 2 would involve plugging gaps in the current security apparatus by acquiring capabilities such a military radar system and modern aircraft. The Naval Service would be equipped to modernise and deploy all nine of its ships to ensure they spend a minimum of 220 days each at sea and there would be an increased focus on special forces, cyber capabilities and the Reserve Defence Forces.

The most ambitious proposals, LOA 3, would involve upgrading the Defence Forces to the level of other countries of similar size. The Air Corps would be equipped with fighter jets and the Naval Service would have 12 vessels.

All LOAs involve drastically restructuring the command and control of the military to bring it under a single “Chief of Defence” and bringing its total establishment strength to more than 13,500.

The commission recommended that the Government work towards LOA 2, which would cost an extra €500 million a year, while a debate takes place on the merits of LOA 3, which would bring the defence budget to about €3 billion a year.

Moving to LOA 2 would be a “huge ask”, Mr Coveney said. He said a detailed consideration of the report would now begin and that he would return to Government in four to five months with a “high level action plan” for implementation.