Security for EU presidency highlights State’s defence deficits

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Land and sea security for meeting of EU defence ministers at Druids Glen in Wicklow. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty
Land and sea security for meeting of EU defence ministers at Druids Glen in Wicklow. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said that a “significant security operation” has been been put in place for Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

She didn’t elaborate on exaclty who would be providing that security but since long before the presidency began in July, military analsyts were able to easily predict security wouldn’t come soley from the State’s underfunded Defence Forces.

The Government would need help - but from where? The meetings last week in Druid’s Glen in Wicklow of all the EU’s defence ministers showed the extent of that help as Irish Times investigative journalist Conor Gallagher has been reporting.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon

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