Fianna Fáil has declined to back Fine Gael’s call to double defence spending. 

Describing the world as “very uncertain”, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said Ireland must significantly ramp up defence from its current level of €1.5 billion. 

In 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces set out three ‘Levels of Ambition’ for the Government to consider. 

Level 1 described the status quo, Level 2 would see the State fund “enhanced capabilities” and Level 3 would mean, “Developing full spectrum defence capabilities to protect Ireland and its people to an extent comparable to similar sized countries in Europe.” 

Soldiers of the 124th Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock in Debel before the visit of Micheál Martin in 2024. Image: PA Images / Alamy

The Programme for Government promised the Department of Defence would be given the money “necessary to achieve Level of Ambition 2 Enhanced Capability”. 

However, over the weekend, Minister Harris came out in favour of Level 3 and doubling the defence budget to €3 billion a year. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, his colleague, Minister for Public Expenditure and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers, declined to back his call. 

“We know that Ireland has to strengthen its role in the context of the provision of numbers in our Defence Forces,” he said. 

“Also enhancing, for example, our cyber capability. 

“So, that’s something we’ll engage in in the context of budgetary discussions later this year. 

“But I think the next step for Ireland in 2026, in the context of our budget, will be to follow through on the pathway which we’ve already set out.” 

Defence Forces soldiers. Picture by: PA Archive/PA Images.

Minister Chambers, who previously served as a Junior Minister in the Department of Defence, said that Ireland would continue to remain militarily neutral, but added that did not mean Dublin takes a neutral stance on Russian aggression. 

“We’re not politically neutral when it comes to articulating our position within the European Union, for example,” he said. 

“The future context is one in which we can enhance the capability and the strength of numbers in terms of our Defence Forces.” 

Soldiers training on a snow covered Curragh Plains. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie

When asked what the Irish Government would do if Russia invaded a member of the European Union next, Minister Chambers declined to say whether the State would send troops or not. 

“We obviously cooperate when it comes to partnerships for peace,” he said. 

“For example, PESCO in the context of the European Union. 

“Our constitutional position is clear and we’re making an enhanced contribution in the context of our own defence budget and enhancing the numbers in our Defence Forces. 

“There are many other European countries that have a similar approach to Ireland and we’re making a positive contribution when it comes to foreign policy.”

Last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government would consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force after the war.

Main image: Split of Jack Chambers and an Irish soldier. Pictures by: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland and Andy Gibson / Alamy Stock Photo