Print This Page
Defence Forces
Organisation
Role
Recruitment
History
Department of Defence
Civil Defence
eMail Us
Military Element and Command Arrangements

The Department’s military element consists of Defence Forces Headquarters, which is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The Chief of Staff is directly responsible to the Minister for the overall management of the Defence Forces, including responsibility for the effectiveness, efficiency, military organisation and economy of the Defence Forces. Legislative provision has been made to enable the Chief of Staff to delegate duties to the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support). The Chief of Staff is the Minister’s principal military adviser.

Military command is delegated by the Minister directly to the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) each of the three territorial brigades (Eastern, Southern and Western), to the GOCs of the Defence Forces Training Centre and the Air Corps and to the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service. In practice, matters in relation to command are normally channelled through the Chief of Staff. In effect this means that day-to-day operational control of the Defence Forces rests with the Chief of Staff for which he is directly responsible to the Minister.

More information on the Defence Forces is available on their website at www.military.ie




Contact Us

Department of Defence
Station Road
Newbridge
Co. Kildare

Tel 00 353 45 492000
Fax 00 353 45 492017
* loCall 1890 251890
** Or call 0761 001 607

info@defence.ie

eolas@defence.ie

* Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers
** 0761 numbers are charged as a national number from landlines and mobiles and are often included in bundle deals offered by phone operators