A once in a generation upgrade in the Irish navy has aired underlying questions about the future of the fleet with a public dispute over whether the Defence Forces should specialise in a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) specialising in what is euphemistically referred as ‘humanitarian missions’ likely on the Med, or focus on a leaner combat orientated vessel.
The €300m upgrade to replace the decommissioned LÉ Eithne is the brainchild of the much maligned Department of Defence with the Journal revealing this week internal discontent about original plans for the custom-built construction of the ship.
According to the paper the naval officer core are objecting to the DoD’s current plans citing the need for a more combat-ready vessel optimal for patrolling our Atlantic zone rather than shepherding asylum seekers to Europe from the Levant for example.
The Journal reports a faction of officers even wanting the navy to commission a purpose-built frigate primed for anti-submarine operations, likely in response to Russian encroachment in Irish waters. Facing institutional objections from the DoD the dispute over the vessel cuts to the heart of the philosophical dispute over what the future of the Defence Forces will be.
Facing a grim withdrawal from UNIFIL missions in Lebanon and the inability to be prepared for peacekeeping duties in the Donbass the state now looks to erect tokenistic naval and cybersecurity defences lest the vacuum be filled by outside powers.
The tussle over whether Ireland’s proposed flagship should be a combat-capable warship or a humanitarian “refugee ferry” stretches far beyond mere naval procurement. It’s a window into how a modern, neutral, mid-sized nation like Ireland sees itself in a multipolar world.
Ireland’s Navy has long been underfunded and more recently under-crewed. Now, after years of neglect, the Defence Forces’ most ambitious purchase in decades risks becoming a floating symbol of misplaced priorities in the form of what can be charitably described as a refugee taxi.
Pitched as a ‘versatile platform’ as it stands the MRV purchase looks set to repeat the mistakes of a decade ago when the navy services opened up the door to mass migration into Europe with the ill-thought-out Operation Sophia.
At a time when war is returning to Europe and drug barons carve up our western seaboard the proposed purchase diverts the navy from its primary role is to defend the nation’s maritime borders, safeguard our vast Exclusive Economic Zone,
While DoD mandarins think the vessel adds to Ireland’s military credibility in Brussels or elsewhere deploying a dedicated humanitarian vessel into the Mediterranean does not address the causes of irregular migration it risks incentivising dangerous sea crossings, and enriching traffickers.
And then there is the sovereignty question. If Ireland’s flagship spends most of its service life operating in EU-coordinated migrant rescue, the priorities of our Defence Forces will be set not in Dublin, but in Brussels.
A country that takes its defence seriously should not have to choose between humanitarian obligations and combat readiness. Our flagship can, and should, be capable of both. Stripping it of credible defensive power to turn it into a refugee transport is a false economy, one that leaves Ireland less secure, not more compassionate.
The Navy deserves a ship that can defend the state, protect our waters, and save lives when needed. Anything less is not a flagship. It is a surrender of purpose, dressed up as virtue.
When plans were last drawn up for the development of the Naval Service ( in the early or mid 1990’s I think ) the agreed requirement was for 12 Patrol Vessels equivalent to the 4 we have . Building up that fleet is what we should do in my opinion . As for the proposed 300 million euro ship ; this class of vessel is designed to support Amphibious Landings . We have no valid use for such a vessel but Brussels would like us to have one and our politicians never miss an opportunity to kiss ass . If you are going to acquire warships then you need at least 3 of the class . Corvettes would make much more sense than Frigates as the latter would be an enormous learning curve for the Naval Service .
The Irish Naval Service has but one role, to defend the Fisheries area of the Irish Coast from poachers and contraband smugglers of people and drugs.
The Western Irish coast is the soft underbelly of Europe.
We are a neutral country ,with no wish to become a proxy Military arm of the USA and their Foreign Policy via NATO.
We do not wish to be involved in the folly that the Ukraine and the EU/NATO fools have enmeshed themselves to their detriment and eventual destruction, in a senseless war between the Slavic brothers of Russia and Ukraine.
The days of Naval warfare are over, just like rum ,bum and baccy, with possibly a role for Submarines remaining
It ended with the development of unstoppable Hypersonic missiles.
The missiles can sink an Aircraft Carrier with but one powerful missile from over a 1000 km launch away.
Military and Naval warfare has changed irrevocably ,but the General and Admirals keep fighting with the tactics, strategies and equipment of the last war.
They are .bound to go down to ignoble defeat.
Irelands cretinous , traitorous Regime has already given away our Borders, with the Treasonous EU Migrant Pact and are maneouvering to get us into NATO or its equivalent EU Military confederation.
There is nothing left to defend ,bar the Fish.
We neither need Frigates, or fast narrow and unseaworthyy Corvettes.
We need sturdy, seaworthy ,vessels for the rough waters of the Irish Sea and the long rollers of the wild Atlantic
And not another migrant taxi or a NATO specification gunboat.
Couldn’t agree more. Hear, Hear.
All that’s needed are ships that can transport asylum seekers from Calais to Rosslare . R N L I have plenty of practise providing a taxi service across the English channel . Maybe they can extend the service from Cherbourg / Holyhead to Eireann ?
Lord Keir has overseen 1,000 weekly migrant arrivals on the south coast during his first year on the throne . When Nige is handed the key to # 10 , Ireland will be the # 1 , # 2 dumping ground for those unwanted elsewhere .
The state our naval & air capacities is shameful . Buying appropriate second hand vessels & aircraft needn’t break the bank . Everything & everyone is smuggled ( en masse ) into Ireland via it’s unprotected western flank .
Combat ready – To Attack To Defend To Patrol…Land Sea and Air
Irish Grubmen have never been serious about its defence or forces.The situation now being more complicated with the addition of illegal contraband off shore and landed in large quantities which passes open ports and finds its way to lucrative distribution and street crime which has the negative impacts of crime and victims on the Irish Public.
Do you Arm first or Recruit first…either way both being useless.
To effectively do all that is required now and certainly for the future it would be contracted out to access all equipment necessary for Land Sea and Air Forces and manned by Irish Personell for training before acquiring its own fleet. This will not be done or considered because the goal of grubmen is to lock into Nato and EU army, depending on foreigners to protect or defend Ireland which is not their priority…nothing is protected right now.
Of coarse the last line of defence would require arming the population should a large Invasion necessitate…but as we all can see…its keep Ireland Wide Open and Defenceless as Always…have’nt they all been told before…and dont they have eyes and ears like the rest of us.
For goodness sake how have the Politicians forgotten the lessons of history SO quickly???? They are not acting in our interests at all.
It is a national embarrassment that Ireland cannot patrol its own skies and seas with a credible deterrent. Michael Collins would be in despair to know that we depend on the Brits to defend us.