Defence Forces holds record of longest unbroken UN overseas service

Over the past year, members of the Defence Forces conducted multiple bomb squad call-outs, 120 fishery boardings, more than 300 emergency aeromedical missions, and, with the world’s longest unbroken record of overseas UN service, deployed approximately 450 personnel to peacekeeping missions.

Those are among the activities highlighted in the Óglaigh na hÉireann Year in Review Statement 2024, which summarises the Defence Forces’ domestic, training and international activities throughout the year.

At home, the Army conducted over 124 operations in support of An Garda Síochána involving explosive and ordnance disposal (bomb squad) call outs, prisoner escorts, explosive escorts, cash escorts and specialist search operations.

Across the State, military personnel, both permanent and reserve, were on standby and deployed throughout the year to assist civil authorities during multiple operations, including fire-fighting, flood relief and missing person searches.

Operation Fáilte

Since commencing Operation Fáilte in March 2022, the Defence Forces have contributed to the national effort for the reception, accommodation and sustainment of Ukrainian refugees and International Protection applicants.

The Air Corps responded to more than 300 emergency aeromedical services (EAS) missions supporting the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in providing a medical service for seriously ill patients, and conducted 15 inter-hospital air ambulance tasks, nationally and internationally, to the UK and Europe.

In 2024, the Naval Service secured Ireland’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), through patrolling, advanced surveillance and interagency collaboration and protected Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure and data cables through maritime patrolling.

Joint Task Force Operations were carried out with An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service to suppress illicit drug trafficking by sea.

Some 120 fisheries boardings were conducted resulting in one detention.

Naval Service

The Naval Service patrols 220 million maritime acres of sea, over 12 times the land mass of Ireland, representing 15% of Europe’s fisheries resources.

The Defence Forces continues to have the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the United Nations of any state, having first deployed to a UN mission in 1958.

In 2024, approximately 450 Defence Forces personnel were deployed across 12 missions in 13 countries.

The largest Defence Forces deployment overseas is with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where approximately 360 Irish soldiers are currently serving.