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  • #16
    Originally posted by Bravo20 View Post
    Because the military wanted it, so it must be bad.
    Op Pontus was mainly a successful rescue mission for the many thousands of migrants trying to cross, or forced to cross from North Africa to Southern Europe but mainly through Italian borders or Islands. Running parallel to this Operation was Op Sophia which was mainly a military intervention designed to stop the migration flow in a controllable manner. We left Op Pontus and joined Op Sophia as a more appropriate Naval Mission.

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    • #17
      A former senior member of the Defence Forces has said members of the military are being treated with "contempt" as they are excluded from influencing policies.

      Some very good quotes in this

      And the PSPC report is due to be published today

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      • #18
        Originally posted by Bravo20 View Post
        Because the military wanted it, so it must be bad.
        If I remember correctly, it was at a European Council meeting that it was announced at

        The DF probably weren’t even asked.... An Taoiseach probably made a unilateral decision

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        • #19
          Liveline was all over it today too. The three retired DF people speaking exposed the problem for all. The DoD is not fit for purpose and works to frustrate the activities of the Defence Forces at every opportunity.
          For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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          • #20
            Interesting news day for the DoD, lays bare the complete lack of connection to defense matters by the leadership of the department charged with the defense portfolio. I see even a retired GO spoke out, well done him. Shame it has to come to this. Awkward timing for Leo too with Brexit looming & the outcome of the EU elections. Irelands not a big defense player in Europe by any means, but this sort of thing won't be well received in Brussels either. Leo needs friends in the EU and doesn't want to be asked "how will you secure the EU/NI border Leo when your own DF seem to be falling apart?"

            I'm willing to bet there are some DoD HEO's reaching for the upset tummy medicine tonight. I hope some good comes of it, the troops deserve better. However, as has been pointed out here before, the DF don't really have a constituency in Dail Eireann, so other than the opposition taking a few swipes at the govt, there really isn't anyone to carry a torch for the DF in the Dail. Especially the Minister himself, he seems to be the last one to advocate for his own agency.
            Be interesting to watch.

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            • #21
              It will take Trump coming over in a few weeks an ATCP request coming in and the relevant DF Officer to say no!, insufficient personnel available for something to be done

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              • #22
                Strange how RTE reported this morning that the PSPC was to report today and in the afternoon it became a few weeks

                So:
                - DoD (and possibly DPER) is getting ready to brief against (positive) recommendations ?
                - (positive or negative) recommendations need to be buried on a bad news day (so there isn’t an outcry from the DF air other unions)
                -

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                • #23

                  Taoiseach has 'absolute confidence' in Defence Minister despite claims he is 'out of his depth'

                  Philip Ryan
                  28 May 2019 6:41 PM

                  TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said he has full confidence in Defence Minister Paul Kehoe after he was severely criticised by the former head of the Army Ranger Wing.

                  The Taoiseach also shot down the possibility of making the Department of Defence a full Cabinet ministry despite calls from former soldiers and Opposition politicians.

                  Speaking ahead of an EU Summit in Brussels, Mr Varadkar said: “I have absolute support and confidence in minister Kehoe.

                  “He is a minister at the Cabinet table and has the same weight as any other minister at the Cabinet table,” he added.

                  The Taoiseach said he would have to scrap another department if he was to make the Department of Defence a full Cabinet ministry.

                  “I've yet to hear a proposal from anyone whether they think that should be the Department of Children or the Department of Rural Affairs or which one they think it should be,” he said.


                  Retired Commandant Cathal Berry, who headed up the elite Ranger Wing, described Mr Kehoe as an “empty suit” who is “completely out of his depth” and “simply not up to the job”.

                  “As a junior minister he has been the permanent presence in the Department of Defence since 2011 and has therefore presided over the demise of the Defence Forces,” Mr Commandant Berry said.

                  “To reduce a highly effective and proud organisation to an utterly demoralised outfit over an eight-year period is some achievement,” he added.

                  In Brussels, the Taoiseach acknowledged the former Army Ranger’s criticism but insisted the Government was investing in the Defence Forces.

                  “I heard former Commandant Barry's interview this morning and it certainly was a stinging criticism and I think sometimes Government needs to listen to criticism and sometimes take it on board,” he said.

                  An extra €50m is going in this year and none of it is being handed back. It is going into new vessels, new aircraft, new equipment, better barracks and better pay and pension for our defence forces staff.

                  A Department of Defence spokesperson said the Public Service Pay Commission’s report on soldiers pay and conditions will be considered by the Cabinet in the coming weeks.

                  “Like other areas of the public sector, members of the Defence Forces are benefiting from pay increases in accordance with national public service pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay,” he added.

                  Online Editors
                  Lets see you could merge Department for Children with the Department for Education and merge the Department for Rural Affairs with the Department for Communities and local government. Allowing Defence to becomes a Full Ministry again and leaving a spare "Ministry" at cabinet level for an emergency situation.

                  But that would make sense and all leave those TDs who you need to support your government unhappy.
                  It was the year of fire...the year of destruction...the year we took back what was ours.
                  It was the year of rebirth...the year of great sadness...the year of pain...and the year of joy.
                  It was a new age...It was the end of history.
                  It was the year everything changed.

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                  • #24
                    Making Children a full cabinet position was an election manifesto commitment . 15 is your limit according to Bunreacht
                    "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                    "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

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                    • #25
                      Initially they teamed defence and justice together under shatter so the other wexican could be a minister, thus guaranteeing a government. They forgot to change it back after.
                      For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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                      • #26
                        From the Daíl today:https://www.irishtimes.com/news/poli...rces-1.3908222

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                        • #27
                          The have frequently teamed Defence with another full ministry. Remember Fish & Ships (Defence and the Marine). There is no reason why they could not do the same again and thus have Defence properly represented at the cabinet table.

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
                            Just going to leave this here (Garda pay)

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                            • #29
                              We could have a change of Minister, a full time Minister, a change of Taoiseach, a change of Government, a change of parties in Government...... the constant is the Department (that advise the Minister of the day)

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                              • #30
                                Roughly how much has DoD returned from the past few years budgets??
                                An army is power. Its entire purpose is to coerce others. This power can not be used carelessly or recklessly. This power can do great harm. We have seen more suffering than any man should ever see, and if there is going to be an end to it, it must be an end that justifies the cost. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

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