Crazy how a minority of people still question common sense
If they give us a free ride – why not?
It wasn’t gifted, it was provided as an investment to secure global security, which is necessary for profiting off free trade.
Absolutely true. Absolutely disgraceful what we’re doing.
Neutrality does not require weakness and defencelessness.
All the people on here saying ‘against who?’ – such a short sighted viewpoint.
It’s common sense that a country should be self sufficient in military strength. Nobody knows what the future holds and what diplomatic ambitions future taoiseachs of Ireland will direct the country in. Sure up until now Ireland has been fairly successful at staying neutral but as deserts expand and world population grows there will be a squeeze on arable land and for housing worldwide. This will lead to war.
Ireland may not be able to remain immune to worldwide hostilities. It takes a lot of time (decades) to build meaningful military strength so best to start now. It’s like an umbrella in Irish weather – better to have it and not need it than to be found wanting later on.
We aren’t neutral we’re harmless. Armies dont just fight wars either. Navies pateol our waters to stop smugglers or assist the lifeguard. Airforce doesn’t just patrol our airspace it can help in search and rescue, armies don’t just fight in combat, they can aid in relief efforts or assist Gardaí.
It’s pretty much what the US has been saying about the EU.
Sure, yeah, we are such a target for invasion. The Brits and the Vikings might try it again.
The march to European conflict continues unabated. The warmongers are frantically beating their drums off chaos.
Free riding made sense up until it didn’t, those arguing that the money could be better spent are missing the main point.
If you lived in a gated neighborhood that had extreme security paid for by your wealthy neighbors and local council and thus never had any attempted burglaries in any of those houses, it made sense to free ride. Those wealthy neighbors aren’t even asking us to pay up, they’re saying we should secure our own house, the council is talking about cutting funding and burglars are scoping the place out. It’s now time for us to install some kind of alarm system at the very least.
We can’t even house our people yet we are being told to waste our money on rockets and tanks. Ridiculous
Sometimes, I wonder how the troubles would have played out if Ireland had a credible military that could have been used as a serious counterweight to the British Army. The reason a lot of people joined the likes of the IRA was because there never seemed to be a credible Irish defense force capable of steping in. Admittedly I was born after the troubles though so maybe there was.
It’s foolish in the extreme to take the “ah sher, aren’t we doing grand? Who’d attack us anyway?” point of view.
The world is very much not settled. Europe could very easily be plunged into another large-scale war in the coming months. America is fucked for the time being. We’re sitting alone beside one of the most formidable military mights in the world, they’re the ones who are basically our only line of defence, and they happen to be our traditional enemy(not that I think anyone on either side wants to go back to that).
The least we can do is the bare fucking minimum.
Once again – we are not ‘Neutral’ but we are ‘Militarily Non-Aligned’ – though the difference might be minor it’s a difference.
We do not take our defense capabilities seriously enough and Ireland 100% deserves to be called on this.
I agree with this, but I don’t want us part of NATO it should be 100% for set defence and true neutrality unless the Irish electorate decides the change our stance
This is a divisive topic. We all would love a strong military but it comes at a cost and produces little. Ask what would an investment in military do? If our nearest neighbours decide to invade us we’re not gonna be able to repel them anyways. Why not just leverage our position to benefit from the protection we get as a result of our unique geographical position and our proximity to Britain and Europe.
Nothing is free but unfortunately we can afford to defer spending on our military till more pressing problems are addressed like housing and healthcare.
I do respect the need for a potent military but I just question the timing. I’d probably lean towards increasing spending BUT JUST so the military can fulfil its mission of patrolling the water and covering our air space for basic intercepts.
As Gandhi said in Civ V “There’s no shame in deterrence. Having a weapon is very different from actually using it.”
But free rides are the best kind
I’m all for cyber investment and some intelligence and basic force strength improvements, but in what world can we fund a functioning navy and/or air force?
I’m not a military expert, I’d like to learn more about realistic expectations on this front.
People keep saying Switzerland as an example, does that mean folk are open to mandatory service for the young?
I don’t love the idea of more guns in society, but if it’s coupled with proper training and some community service I can certainly see the benefits
I’d support mandatory military training for citizens under a certain age (which would include myself) and a significant increase in our armed forces.
He’s right. Our armed forces need better equipment.
Every time these kinds of ideas are floated I feel compelled to share that this is part of a strategy that is pushed by unelected bodies such as
Just have a quick read there about what they are about.
Shaping public opinion in favour of an EU miltary war machine is a KPI for the Martens centre and Ireland is top of the list to be targeted with biased and misleading “opinion pieces”.
Just be aware that we are the targets of an online disinformation campaign by a right wing European think tank that wants us to make money building an EU army.
Could they just build more houses for everyone, then worry about WW3
Who is Irelands enemy?
Because we don’t participate in recreational war like many others, we have little that follows us back to our door steps.
The people who understand the games these countries enjoy playing, know that its great to have someone else fight your battles for you. We have no seat at the table, we don’t make gains from war, we don’t have the spoils of countries destroyed for war.
Let’s be very realistic, if Russia for one example was to attack Ireland, there’s little of substance that would be done or could be done. That’s not unique to Ireland, anyone who is near Ireland is looking at a bigger fish close by. That’s what concerns them.
Leave the conquest to the people with most experience, and leave defence to those who wish to protect themselves.
The largest atrocities that have occurred in Ireland weren’t from anything were being told to worry about now, it wasn’t the Russians, it wasn’t radical religious groups.
Why is it we are the only EU country not in NATO bar Austria which agreed not to join NATO in exchange for Soviet withdrawal post WW2 and how is that absence virtuous ?
We freeload off of our neighbors while simultaneously lecturing them about how moral and virtuous we are. The same neighbors who at the first sign of trouble we would beg for help.
Its a bit fncking rich.
Edit: cyprus is blocked by Turkey and Malta had a British garrison on it until 1979.
Malta and Cyprus are tiny
How is it Poland and Germany given their atrocious history can get along just fine in NATO but Ireland is so unique, so special – we just can’t abide being in NATO with the Brits ?
Because that’s the answer you know, the Brits and partition, its nothing to do with ‘neutrality’ and everything to do with partition.
Then maybe Ireland should be *properly* neutral instead of just giving bullshit lip-service to neutrality.
We need advice from small, well defended countries, not the USA. I believe that an American general has been brought in to advice, absolutely absurd, where the comparison
The government would do literally anything but build houses
Fully in favour of increasing our defense spending to address credible threats to the state- cyberattacks, offshore infrastructure etc. but can someone please tell me why there’s so much fearmongering about an invasion of the country when that’s clearly not going to happen?
We’re a small island, lacking in natural resources or valuable infrastructure, with nothing for thousands of miles to our north, south or west, and a close, nuclear armed ally directly to our east. Russia, the closest hostile state to us is on the other end of the European continent, with dozens of other Russian enemies between us and them, two with nukes.
Even if Russia did decide we were worth conquering, which we aren’t, it would be a logistical nightmare for them to invade us. Geography alone works more for our national defense than any amount of military investment ever could. If the UK was taken over by a regime nostalgic for the days of the empire we might be in trouble, but the current far-right movement in the UK is isolationist.
The only invader with even the slightest chance of attacking us is actually the USA, if they decided to keep crossing the Atlantic after Greenland or the AIPAC lobbyists decide a coup of our government would help Israel’s PR, which is still a <1% possibility. Even in that stunningly unlikely scenario, they spend such an absurd amount of money on their military that realistically we’d be better off just preparing to run the inevitable insurgency rather than even try and prevent them from taking us over in an afternoon.
In the meantime, our neutrality gives us a very unique role in contributing to peace in Europe and beyond. For example, Russia has ruled out NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine, but given that we aren’t in NATO this gives us hugely valuable leverage in negotiations to ending the conflict.
Can we focus on what actually might happen to this country and address those specific issues rather than wet ourselves over the boogeyman Russians under the bed and throw away the rare things we can contribute?
Can we stop this shilling for the US defence industry. They see our surplus and they want it.
A free ride. Its in those “others” interests to do so. Also, they will do everything to stop us acting in our interests. Lets not pretend that this isn’t just outsourcing
So the same people who think Ireland should be self sufficient in defence and military don’t think we need to be self sufficient regarding food and farming. And they don’t think they’re brainwashed… right, got it
In B4 SAAB VIGGEN!
Security is a social contract between a nation state and its citizens. Ireland has continuously eroded the social contract with its citizens, this is just one more example.
The last time a foreign power had the resources, the opportunity and the strategic imperative to invade us was in WW2. 1940 when France had fallen and Britain stood alone. The Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht were at the height of their powers. If anything our capacity to defend ourselves was even less than what it is now. Germany had proved it would ignore neutrality when strategic advantage could be gained.
So if Ireland is so strategically important, or her resources so strategically valuable to be invaded by a putative foe now, why on Earth did Germany not do so then?
36 comments
Crazy how a minority of people still question common sense
If they give us a free ride – why not?
It wasn’t gifted, it was provided as an investment to secure global security, which is necessary for profiting off free trade.
Absolutely true. Absolutely disgraceful what we’re doing.
Neutrality does not require weakness and defencelessness.
All the people on here saying ‘against who?’ – such a short sighted viewpoint.
It’s common sense that a country should be self sufficient in military strength. Nobody knows what the future holds and what diplomatic ambitions future taoiseachs of Ireland will direct the country in. Sure up until now Ireland has been fairly successful at staying neutral but as deserts expand and world population grows there will be a squeeze on arable land and for housing worldwide. This will lead to war.
Ireland may not be able to remain immune to worldwide hostilities. It takes a lot of time (decades) to build meaningful military strength so best to start now. It’s like an umbrella in Irish weather – better to have it and not need it than to be found wanting later on.
We aren’t neutral we’re harmless. Armies dont just fight wars either. Navies pateol our waters to stop smugglers or assist the lifeguard. Airforce doesn’t just patrol our airspace it can help in search and rescue, armies don’t just fight in combat, they can aid in relief efforts or assist Gardaí.
It’s pretty much what the US has been saying about the EU.
Sure, yeah, we are such a target for invasion. The Brits and the Vikings might try it again.
The march to European conflict continues unabated. The warmongers are frantically beating their drums off chaos.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/08/uk-strategic-defence-review-nuclear-arms-race-armageddon
Free riding made sense up until it didn’t, those arguing that the money could be better spent are missing the main point.
If you lived in a gated neighborhood that had extreme security paid for by your wealthy neighbors and local council and thus never had any attempted burglaries in any of those houses, it made sense to free ride. Those wealthy neighbors aren’t even asking us to pay up, they’re saying we should secure our own house, the council is talking about cutting funding and burglars are scoping the place out. It’s now time for us to install some kind of alarm system at the very least.
We can’t even house our people yet we are being told to waste our money on rockets and tanks. Ridiculous
Sometimes, I wonder how the troubles would have played out if Ireland had a credible military that could have been used as a serious counterweight to the British Army. The reason a lot of people joined the likes of the IRA was because there never seemed to be a credible Irish defense force capable of steping in. Admittedly I was born after the troubles though so maybe there was.
It’s foolish in the extreme to take the “ah sher, aren’t we doing grand? Who’d attack us anyway?” point of view.
The world is very much not settled. Europe could very easily be plunged into another large-scale war in the coming months. America is fucked for the time being. We’re sitting alone beside one of the most formidable military mights in the world, they’re the ones who are basically our only line of defence, and they happen to be our traditional enemy(not that I think anyone on either side wants to go back to that).
The least we can do is the bare fucking minimum.
Once again – we are not ‘Neutral’ but we are ‘Militarily Non-Aligned’ – though the difference might be minor it’s a difference.
We do not take our defense capabilities seriously enough and Ireland 100% deserves to be called on this.
I agree with this, but I don’t want us part of NATO it should be 100% for set defence and true neutrality unless the Irish electorate decides the change our stance
This is a divisive topic. We all would love a strong military but it comes at a cost and produces little. Ask what would an investment in military do? If our nearest neighbours decide to invade us we’re not gonna be able to repel them anyways. Why not just leverage our position to benefit from the protection we get as a result of our unique geographical position and our proximity to Britain and Europe.
Nothing is free but unfortunately we can afford to defer spending on our military till more pressing problems are addressed like housing and healthcare.
I do respect the need for a potent military but I just question the timing. I’d probably lean towards increasing spending BUT JUST so the military can fulfil its mission of patrolling the water and covering our air space for basic intercepts.
As Gandhi said in Civ V “There’s no shame in deterrence. Having a weapon is very different from actually using it.”
But free rides are the best kind
I’m all for cyber investment and some intelligence and basic force strength improvements, but in what world can we fund a functioning navy and/or air force?
I’m not a military expert, I’d like to learn more about realistic expectations on this front.
People keep saying Switzerland as an example, does that mean folk are open to mandatory service for the young?
I don’t love the idea of more guns in society, but if it’s coupled with proper training and some community service I can certainly see the benefits
I’d support mandatory military training for citizens under a certain age (which would include myself) and a significant increase in our armed forces.
He’s right. Our armed forces need better equipment.
Every time these kinds of ideas are floated I feel compelled to share that this is part of a strategy that is pushed by unelected bodies such as
[https://www.martenscentre.eu/who-we-are/](https://www.martenscentre.eu/who-we-are/)
Just have a quick read there about what they are about.
Shaping public opinion in favour of an EU miltary war machine is a KPI for the Martens centre and Ireland is top of the list to be targeted with biased and misleading “opinion pieces”.
Just be aware that we are the targets of an online disinformation campaign by a right wing European think tank that wants us to make money building an EU army.
Could they just build more houses for everyone, then worry about WW3
Who is Irelands enemy?
Because we don’t participate in recreational war like many others, we have little that follows us back to our door steps.
The people who understand the games these countries enjoy playing, know that its great to have someone else fight your battles for you. We have no seat at the table, we don’t make gains from war, we don’t have the spoils of countries destroyed for war.
Let’s be very realistic, if Russia for one example was to attack Ireland, there’s little of substance that would be done or could be done. That’s not unique to Ireland, anyone who is near Ireland is looking at a bigger fish close by. That’s what concerns them.
Leave the conquest to the people with most experience, and leave defence to those who wish to protect themselves.
The largest atrocities that have occurred in Ireland weren’t from anything were being told to worry about now, it wasn’t the Russians, it wasn’t radical religious groups.
Why is it we are the only EU country not in NATO bar Austria which agreed not to join NATO in exchange for Soviet withdrawal post WW2 and how is that absence virtuous ?
We freeload off of our neighbors while simultaneously lecturing them about how moral and virtuous we are. The same neighbors who at the first sign of trouble we would beg for help.
Its a bit fncking rich.
Edit: cyprus is blocked by Turkey and Malta had a British garrison on it until 1979.
Malta and Cyprus are tiny
How is it Poland and Germany given their atrocious history can get along just fine in NATO but Ireland is so unique, so special – we just can’t abide being in NATO with the Brits ?
Because that’s the answer you know, the Brits and partition, its nothing to do with ‘neutrality’ and everything to do with partition.
Then maybe Ireland should be *properly* neutral instead of just giving bullshit lip-service to neutrality.
We need advice from small, well defended countries, not the USA. I believe that an American general has been brought in to advice, absolutely absurd, where the comparison
https://preview.redd.it/i5ry1nrf136f1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=877b23d47ba7be9f4c6ab4a562555df571620e82
Don’t make me tap the sign again…
The government would do literally anything but build houses
Fully in favour of increasing our defense spending to address credible threats to the state- cyberattacks, offshore infrastructure etc. but can someone please tell me why there’s so much fearmongering about an invasion of the country when that’s clearly not going to happen?
We’re a small island, lacking in natural resources or valuable infrastructure, with nothing for thousands of miles to our north, south or west, and a close, nuclear armed ally directly to our east. Russia, the closest hostile state to us is on the other end of the European continent, with dozens of other Russian enemies between us and them, two with nukes.
Even if Russia did decide we were worth conquering, which we aren’t, it would be a logistical nightmare for them to invade us. Geography alone works more for our national defense than any amount of military investment ever could. If the UK was taken over by a regime nostalgic for the days of the empire we might be in trouble, but the current far-right movement in the UK is isolationist.
The only invader with even the slightest chance of attacking us is actually the USA, if they decided to keep crossing the Atlantic after Greenland or the AIPAC lobbyists decide a coup of our government would help Israel’s PR, which is still a <1% possibility. Even in that stunningly unlikely scenario, they spend such an absurd amount of money on their military that realistically we’d be better off just preparing to run the inevitable insurgency rather than even try and prevent them from taking us over in an afternoon.
In the meantime, our neutrality gives us a very unique role in contributing to peace in Europe and beyond. For example, Russia has ruled out NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine, but given that we aren’t in NATO this gives us hugely valuable leverage in negotiations to ending the conflict.
Can we focus on what actually might happen to this country and address those specific issues rather than wet ourselves over the boogeyman Russians under the bed and throw away the rare things we can contribute?
Can we stop this shilling for the US defence industry. They see our surplus and they want it.
A free ride. Its in those “others” interests to do so. Also, they will do everything to stop us acting in our interests. Lets not pretend that this isn’t just outsourcing
So the same people who think Ireland should be self sufficient in defence and military don’t think we need to be self sufficient regarding food and farming. And they don’t think they’re brainwashed… right, got it
In B4 SAAB VIGGEN!
Security is a social contract between a nation state and its citizens. Ireland has continuously eroded the social contract with its citizens, this is just one more example.
The last time a foreign power had the resources, the opportunity and the strategic imperative to invade us was in WW2. 1940 when France had fallen and Britain stood alone. The Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht were at the height of their powers. If anything our capacity to defend ourselves was even less than what it is now. Germany had proved it would ignore neutrality when strategic advantage could be gained.
So if Ireland is so strategically important, or her resources so strategically valuable to be invaded by a putative foe now, why on Earth did Germany not do so then?
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