Department of Defence (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Department of Defence is the department
of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for preserving peace and security in Ireland
and abroad. The Department is led by the Minister for Defence
who is assisted by one Minister of State
.
, County Kildare
, and the ministerial office of the department is located at Infirmary Road, Dublin 7. The Departmental team consists of the following:
on 21 January 1919. Over the years the role of the Department has remained exactly the same. The Department has been known simply as the Department of Defence since 1919, however on some occasions it has been coupled with the Marine portfolio.
The mission of the Department of Defence is to meet the needs of Government
and the public by providing value for money defence and civil defence
services and by coordinating and overseeing the emergency planning process. The Department is also concerned with ensuring the secure and stable environment necessary for economic growth and development in Ireland
. The military budget was €1.005 Billion in 2007 (estimated) and €1.354 Billion in 2010.
The Department oversees the operations of the Irish Defence Forces whose roles are:
The Department has also had responsibility for the Irish Red Cross
since 1939.
When not engaged in military operations at home or overseas, most defence organisations concentrate on training and preparation and not on the provision of non-military services. The Defence Forces have achieved very high levels of training and preparation in recent years while also providing a wide range of services to other Government Departments and agencies. The Defence Forces Training Centre at the Curragh Camp
is staffed by 1,300 soldiers and 300 civilians.
Records are maintained be the Irish Military Archives
.
Department of State (Ireland)
A Department of State of Ireland, is a department or ministry of the Government of Ireland. The head of such a department is a Minister of the Government , often called a 'cabinet minister' or 'government minister' which should not be confused with Minister of State which is a junior non-cabinet...
of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for preserving peace and security in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and abroad. The Department is led by the Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Ireland)
The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
who is assisted by one Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
.
Departmental team
The official headquarters of department are at Station Road, NewbridgeNewbridge, County Kildare
The earliest known mention of Newbridge was by traveller and bookseller John Dunton in 1698, though he does not refer to any settlement other than at Ballymany....
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and the ministerial office of the department is located at Infirmary Road, Dublin 7. The Departmental team consists of the following:
- Minister for DefenceMinister for Defence (Ireland)The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
: Alan ShatterAlan ShatterAlan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:...
, TDTeachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
- Minister of State at the Department of Defence: Paul KehoePaul KehoePaul Kehoe is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency since 2002, and is the current Government Chief Whip.-Early and private life:...
, TD
- Minister of State at the Department of Defence: Paul Kehoe
- Secretary General of the Department: Michael Howard
History
The Department of Defence was created at the very first meeting of Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
on 21 January 1919. Over the years the role of the Department has remained exactly the same. The Department has been known simply as the Department of Defence since 1919, however on some occasions it has been coupled with the Marine portfolio.
Structure
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
and the public by providing value for money defence and civil defence
Civil Defence Ireland
Civil Defence Ireland is the national civil defence organisation of the Republic of Ireland. It is operated at local authority level in conjunction with the Department of Defence....
services and by coordinating and overseeing the emergency planning process. The Department is also concerned with ensuring the secure and stable environment necessary for economic growth and development in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The military budget was €1.005 Billion in 2007 (estimated) and €1.354 Billion in 2010.
The Department oversees the operations of the Irish Defence Forces whose roles are:
- to defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on an ongoing Government assessment of the security and defence environment
- to aid the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State)
- to participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and under UN mandate, including regional security missions authorised by the UN - to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State’s obligations as a member of the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- to carry out such other duties as may be assigned to them from time to time, e.g. search and rescue, air ambulance service, Ministerial air transport service, assistance on the occasion of natural or other disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, assistance in combating oil pollution at sea
The Department has also had responsibility for the Irish Red Cross
Irish Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross Society , commonly referred to as the Irish Red Cross , is the National Red Cross Society in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by Nurse Elizabeth O'Herrin either on 1 July or 1 August 1939 on the approach of the Second World War...
since 1939.
When not engaged in military operations at home or overseas, most defence organisations concentrate on training and preparation and not on the provision of non-military services. The Defence Forces have achieved very high levels of training and preparation in recent years while also providing a wide range of services to other Government Departments and agencies. The Defence Forces Training Centre at the Curragh Camp
Curragh Camp
The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :...
is staffed by 1,300 soldiers and 300 civilians.
Records are maintained be the Irish Military Archives
Irish Military Archives
The Irish Military Archives is the official depository for the records of the Irish Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, and the Army Pensions Board, as established by the National Archives Act of 1986....
.