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DEFENCE FORCES ROUNDUP
The Irish Defence Forces had another busy year, both at home and abroad, in 2019.
At home, the Defence Forces conducted a wide range of Defence and Security Operations in Ireland in the last year. Supporting An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Local Authorities and other agencies of the State on a daily basis.
These included almost 200 operations involving explosive ordnance disposal, prisoner escorts, explosives escorts, major cash escorts and search operations, with 336 personnel deployed to assist in 14 searches at the request of Gardaí. Some 2,614 personnel were deployed for the visits of US president
Donal Trump and vice-president Mike Pence, while members of the Defence Forces continue to provide a permanent armed guard at Portlaoise maximum security prison, as well as the Central Bank and Irish Industrial Explosives, and contribute personnel and expertise in supporting the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment’s National Cyber Security Centre.
Approximately 120 personnel were deployed to assist civil authorities during multiple operations, including combatting gorse fi res in Wicklow, Donegal and Mayo, while Defence Forces ambulances and crews were deployed on seven occasions to assist the National Ambulance Service in Dublin, Cork and Kildare.
Offshore, the Naval Service fl eet conducted 780 boarding operations and detained 12 vessels for alleged
infringements of fi shing regulations in support of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. This was supported by the Air Corps, who conducted more than 130 maritime surveillance patrol fl ights over territorial waters in 2019. Patrolling an area 12 times the size of Ireland, maritime defence and security over 220 million acres of sea is no easy task, so the commissioning of the new LÉ George Bernard Shaw in April is a welcome addition to the fl eet.
The Naval Service Diving Section were also deployed for 26 operations in 2019, following requests from An Garda Síochána and the Coast Guard. In the air, as well as assisting the Naval Service, the Air Corps completed more than 230 Emergency Aeromedical Services Missions supporting the HSE in providing a medical service for seriously ill patients in isolated rural communities.
They also provided more than 30 inter-hospital Air Ambulance service support operations in response to timecritical medical emergencies, with 20 of these flights requiring patient delivery to the UK or mainland Europe.
The Air Corps also participated in a multinational pollution monitoring operation in the North Sea.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS The longest unbroken record of overseas service with the United Nations continues for the Defence Forces, with personnel serving overseas on missions with the UN, NATO, EU and OSCE Peace Support and Security Operations across 14 missions in 13 countries.
There are currently 595 Defence Forces personnel serving overseas, with the largest deployment in South Lebanon with UNIFIL, where 338 Defence Forces members help maintain a safe and secure environment. This deployment is in partnership with Poland and the Armed Forces of Malta.
Ireland also has 138 personnel currently deployed with the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Syria’s Golan Heights, where the Armoured Personnel Carrier upgrade programme saw nine new APCs deployed in November, enhancing force protection and mobility for troops.
The first deployment to the UN Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilisation Mission in Mali also commenced in September, with the Defence Forces contributing staff officers in Force HQ in Bamako and Army Ranger Wing personnel working with the German Reconnaissance Task Force.
Ireland also has three personnel working in the Operational HQ of the EU Naval Force Mediterranean on Operation Sophia in Rome, with the objective of disrupting organised criminal networks involved in illicit activities including smuggling of migrants, human trafficking and terrorism.
During 2019, the Defence Forces also deployed one ordnance officer, on three occasions, as a member of the Joint Technical Group on
Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration to Mozambique, while in August 2019, ten personnel were deployed as part of the Force HQ Staff with the EU Battlegroup 2020 to Stadtallendorf, Germany.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION The significant focus on recruitment, training and education within the Irish Defence Forces ensures that personnel develop their skills in order to be prepared for complex operating environments at home and abroad, and in 2019, 461 recruits (21 females) and 96 cadets (14 female) began their military training.
Approximately 166 personnel completed traditional Honours Degree courses, of which two completed Masters Courses through Continuous Professional Development programmes.
There were 1,051 Skill Courses conducted in 2019, with 13,412 student days developing and maintaining Defence Forces capabilities, while 601 personnel underwent 35 Career courses, developing their leadership, planning and decision-making skills. Some 1,900 Defence Forces personnel also underwent overseas pre-deployment mission readiness training, ranging from counterimprovised explosive devices (IEDs) to medical first responder training, radio and communications skills to armoured vehicle driving.
CEREMONIAL REPRESENTATION The Defence Forces participated in more than 50 significant military and State ceremonial events in the last year. These included the commemoration of the 103rd anniversary of the Easter Rising at the GPO, the 1916 Leaders Commemoration at Arbour Hill, and the National Day of Commemoration at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Personnel also took part in the National Famine Commemoration in Sligo in May.
State ceremonial honours were afforded on the occasion of the State visit to Ireland of the King and Queen of Sweden in May, the King and Queen of the Netherlands in June, and the president of Cuba in October, while honours were also afforded to President Higgins on the occasion of his departure for a State visit to Germany in July.
The Defence Forces also participated in a series of monthly ceremonies at Áras an Uachtaráin, where a total of 35 Ambassadors presented their credentials to President Higgins.
A special State ceremony was also held at Collins Barracks in April to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Reserve Defence Force, with a parade held at which Minister of Defence Paul Kehoe, TD, conducted a review of the Reserve Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces Remembrance Ceremony was held at The National Memorial, Merrion Square, in December, to remember those members of the Defence Forces who have given their lives in the service of the State. As part of this ceremony, Minister Kehoe laid a wreath, along with families of deceased members. Overall, 2019 was another busy but rewarding year for the Defence Forces, and 2020 will no doubt see the same high levels of dedication and development from the personnel who work so hard to keep us secure.
Aviva Stadium Tour NEW
An exclusive backstage experience with access to areas usually reserved for players.
Take a look behind the scenes in the players dressing room, media centre and pitch side. Including a look at some of the IRFU and FAI’s amazing artefacts on show in these special areas.
Open seven days a week, with tours running at 11:30am, 13:30pm and 15:30pm. Call us on 01 238 2312 or email tours@avivastadium.ie to book a tour.
Welcome to those in need
Bro. Kevin would like to thank those who have donated to the Capuchin Day Centre, enabling us to provide 850 meals a day and 1,700 food parcels a week for the people who attend the centre. We have a doctor’s clinic, dental clinic and chiropodist on-site and showers are provided every day.
Please send a donation, no matter how small to:
Bro. Kevin Crowley ofm cap. Capuchin Day Centre, 29, Bow Street, Dublin 7. Telephone: 01-8720770 or donate online www.homeless.ie
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29/05/2019 16:14
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