Displaying items by tag: Defence Forces spending

11th October 2018

Defence Forces Including Navy to Get Extra Money for Purchases of New Equipment

Irish Naval Service’s LÉ Niamh (above) along with sister Afloat adds, Roisin the namesake of the OPV80/ P50 class patrol vessels would undergo a mid-life refit as part of Defence Forces spending which in 2019 will increase by €47.5m to almost €1b

#NavalService - Naval Service along with the Army and Air Corps that form the Defence Forces reports The Irish Times, has received significant extra money for purchases of new equipment next year.

Morale in the Defence Forces has been hit in recent times because of complaints about wages and shortages of key staff across the forces and the effects of resignations and retirements.

Defence spending next year will increase by €47.5 million to almost €1 billion, though most of the €994 million is absorbed by the pay bill, which will rise €18.5 million. Capital spending will jump €29 million to €106 million.

Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe said the upgrading and replacement of equipment would help ensure the Defence Forces could meet its peace keeping obligations on United Nations missions.

For more on the story including upgrade of 'Roisin' class OPV's and fuel facilities at the Naval Base in Cork Harbour click here.

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Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium.