Lieut Gen Pulkkinen said a lack of resources within the Naval Service and Air Corps represented a serious “vulnerability” for the Republic. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said the move would not impact the capability of the Naval Service, though military sources strongly disagree with that appraisal. The LE Róisín and LE Niamh last week became the latest two vessels to be mothballed because the Naval Service does not have enough personnel to crew them, leaving just four ships available to carry out patrols. He believes Irish spending on defence needs to be doubled or trebled.
Lieut Gen Pulkkinen was a member of the Commission on the Defence Forces, which examined the state of the military, determined where investment was required and assessed the threats to the Republic before publishing its report 12 months ago. He said Ireland needed to be able to monitor its seas and airspace and, given the economy is so dependent on technology, there should be capability to identity and respond to cyberthreats. Those vulnerabilities are coming into greater focus with the “world order is in flames” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lieut Gen Esa Pulkkinen, a retired former senior officer in the Finnish military, said the lack of investment in the Irish Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has left the country “vulnerable”. The era of military neutrality for nations like Ireland is “over” and significant investment in the Defence Forces will be required if the State wants to defend itself from changing threats, Finland’s senior defence official has said.
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