While some are gung-ho for Ireland to join NATO or an EU Army I expect that a large majority would oppose such a move. To get either option over the line the State would have to guarantee that should there be a need for conscription, conscripts would not be obliged to serve beyond the island of Ireland.
Recruitment and retention seem to be a challenge for the defence forces as is and I suspect that the prospect of being sent to fight a war on the fringes of NATO, the EU or beyond would not improve things in this regard.
Methinks we might be better to co-operate closely with the UK to develop improved air and sea defence for the British Isles as a whole.
I'm constantly amazed at the total disconnect of our citizenry towards our Defence Forces and the role they do. The organisation is completely voluntary and has no history of conscription. It doesn't have the infrastructure to support conscription. With the amount of ardent Shinners and internal security issues in the state, the security resources alone required to ensure the integrity of a conscript system, would be substantial. It would make more sense to just expand the professional system anyway.
A conscript force requires a professional military to maintain it AND to carry out ongoing duties. We are really too small to manage a conscript system and we lack the overt threat needed to politically sustain such a system among the population (i.e. Finland/Sweden). Particularly a population that has a head in the sand approach to Defence and Security.
We had a large reserve force system (that has since been run into the ground) that numbered over 12,000 at one stage. Again completely voluntary. We have the capacity to maintain a standing force and a large reserve force (which can attract sufficient numbers on a voluntary basis and provide meaningful/rapid expansion if required) without the need for any conscription system whatsoever. Politically, why would anybody introduce a system like that in Ireland. It's a total red herring.
The Defence Forces already have a system for mandatory overseas service. However, every single person who joins (as a professional soldier) agrees to this system. They are required to give up their rights in this regard. Members of the Defence Forces cannot question when and where they are sent. It's a political decision and that's where it should stay. That fact does not influence recruitment and retention now, nor will it in the future because the 'prospect of being sent to fight a war' is not a reality. Nor is conscription, nor is an 'invasion' as a meaningful threat upon which to contextualise the discussion on Irish Defence and Security policy.
That will also mean difficult decisions ,the British might not be willing to cooperate on our terms , they would likely want to be able to access our ports and airports and want to place radar or sophisticated kit that the Irish army don't possess .
They will obviously sense that we are getting more anxious about our defence and will use that to drive a better bargain.
Alot of sacred cows are going to have to be jettisoned shortly. This will be very difficult territory for SF.
There's a well worn diktat “there is no such thing as friendly intelligence agencies, there are only intelligence agencies of friendly powers”. Same goes in matters of national security. No alliance precludes actions against those you are in an alliance with. Fundamentally, you need your own capability and your own information in order to make any assessments. Relying on friendly forces is grand for training, ad hoc logistics etc. For 'tip of the spear' stuff you need absolute and total control.
I wonder how will SF propose to manage the withdrawal of the NATO umbrella from a lot of British and Irish citizens?
