G2 (Republic of Ireland)
Encyclopedia
G2 or G-2 is the national intelligence agency
of Ireland
. It is the military intelligence
branch of the Irish Defence Forces, and also helps protect Ireland's national security. G2 is used in several western and NATO forces to refer to the Intelligence and Security branch of the staff function. It is more commonly referred to in the Irish Defence Forces
as the Defence Forces Directorate of Intelligence. The role of the Directorate is:
Although a small service as regards permanent defence forces personnel the majority of G2 members serve on full time basis. G2 personnel regularly train, deploy and liaise with foreign intelligence, government and non-government agencies to share knowledge and best practice. This ensures they keep abreast of threats and are able to collate essential intelligence to further protect the state, the Defence Forces and its interests.
The Defence Intelligence Section of the Directorate is staffed by NCOs
and Officers. It is tasked with providing intelligence support to the Defence Forces. Staff actively monitor relevant political, economic, social and military situations to produce intelligence reports or strategic studies to support operations. The soldiers in this section can be found briefing all the way up to Ministerial level.
The National Security Intelligence Section deals with threats to the state and Defence Forces in general. These includes identifying, monitoring and assessing possible threats to the state and Irish
national interests, be it by hostile intelligence services, criminal organisations or terrorist groups. Counter-intelligence
is also part of the section's remit, in addition to providing counter subversive, counter sabotage, counter terrorist and physical security advice.
was known as in neutral Ireland. From 1942 the Chief Staff Officer of G2 was Colonel Dan Bryan, who closely collaborated on codebreaking with Richard Hayes, the Director of the National Library of Ireland
.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) also came under G2 scrutiny during The Emergency. The IRA would remain a subject of G2 operations throughout The Troubles
. G2 has provided intelligence officers to serve on numerous United Nations
and European Union
peacekeeping missions throughout the world, and assists the International Security Assistance Force
in Afghanistan
, and maintains ties with Afghan security services, and with British and US intelligence. It has also infiltrated Islamist
networks following the September 11 attacks.
Although a small service, the personnel are well respected and maintain a discreet profile. They continue to recruit some of the most able individuals within the Defence Forces from all backgrounds, and focus on the reliability, integrity, dedication and honesty of individuals to achieve the best results.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
of 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,...
. It is the military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
branch of the Irish Defence Forces, and also helps protect Ireland's national security. G2 is used in several western and NATO forces to refer to the Intelligence and Security branch of the staff function. It is more commonly referred to in the Irish Defence Forces
Irish Defence Forces
The armed forces of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces encompass the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Force.The current Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence forces is His Excellency Michael D Higgins in his role as President of Ireland...
as the Defence Forces Directorate of Intelligence. The role of the Directorate is:
- to provide operational intelligence and security to deployed Irish forces globally, and
- the provision of security in relation to the state and its national interests (both domestic and foreign).
Although a small service as regards permanent defence forces personnel the majority of G2 members serve on full time basis. G2 personnel regularly train, deploy and liaise with foreign intelligence, government and non-government agencies to share knowledge and best practice. This ensures they keep abreast of threats and are able to collate essential intelligence to further protect the state, the Defence Forces and its interests.
The Defence Intelligence Section of the Directorate is staffed by NCOs
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
and Officers. It is tasked with providing intelligence support to the Defence Forces. Staff actively monitor relevant political, economic, social and military situations to produce intelligence reports or strategic studies to support operations. The soldiers in this section can be found briefing all the way up to Ministerial level.
The National Security Intelligence Section deals with threats to the state and Defence Forces in general. These includes identifying, monitoring and assessing possible threats to the state and Irish
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,...
national interests, be it by hostile intelligence services, criminal organisations or terrorist groups. Counter-intelligence
Counter-intelligence
Counterintelligence or counter-intelligence refers to efforts made by intelligence organizations to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from successfully gathering and collecting intelligence against them. National intelligence programs, and, by extension, the overall defenses of...
is also part of the section's remit, in addition to providing counter subversive, counter sabotage, counter terrorist and physical security advice.
Activities
G2 played a crucial role in the detection and arrest of 13 German spies in Ireland during The Emergency, as World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was known as in neutral Ireland. From 1942 the Chief Staff Officer of G2 was Colonel Dan Bryan, who closely collaborated on codebreaking with Richard Hayes, the Director of the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) also came under G2 scrutiny during The Emergency. The IRA would remain a subject of G2 operations throughout The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
. G2 has provided intelligence officers to serve on numerous United Nations
United Nations
The 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 European Union
European Union
The 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...
peacekeeping missions throughout the world, and assists the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and maintains ties with Afghan security services, and with British and US intelligence. It has also infiltrated Islamist
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
networks following the September 11 attacks.
Training and Selection
Individuals can apply to be selected for the Directorate of Intelligence and they must be NCOs or Officers to be considered for appointment. Unlike a number of military forces, the Irish Defence Forces actively include intelligence as part of NCO and Officer education, but those selected to join the Directorate receive further specialist training. The Defence Forces run their own Defence Intelligence & Security course. It is a combined course for NCOs and Officers. The course runs for 5 weeks and covers the main areas of intelligence operations including principles of intelligence operations, defence intelligence, intelligence analysis, and combat intelligence. The course is supported by additional "on the job" training as part of the Directorate. This includes additional communications, weapons and surveillance training to support ongoing operations. Further training in languages is also available, and specialist training on sensitive subjects such as religion, culture, ethnicity and radicalisation are also provided.Although a small service, the personnel are well respected and maintain a discreet profile. They continue to recruit some of the most able individuals within the Defence Forces from all backgrounds, and focus on the reliability, integrity, dedication and honesty of individuals to achieve the best results.
See also
- Irish Defence ForcesIrish Defence ForcesThe armed forces of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces encompass the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Force.The current Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence forces is His Excellency Michael D Higgins in his role as President of Ireland...
- Irish ArmyIrish ArmyThe Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
- Irish Army RangersIrish Army RangersThe Army Ranger Wing is the special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces.The ARW trains and operates with many international special operations units worldwide, including the US Army Rangers, Delta Force, French GIGN, German GSG 9, Polish GROM, Swedish SSG, Italian COMSUBIN, Australian SAS,...
- List of intelligence agencies
- Military IntelligenceMilitary intelligenceMilitary intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
- Politics of the Republic of IrelandPolitics of the Republic of IrelandIreland is a parliamentary, representative democratic republic and a member state of the European Union. While the head of state is the popularly elected President of Ireland, this is a largely ceremonial position with real political power being vested in the indirectly elected Taoiseach who is...