Department of Defence

Uachtaráin na hEireann marks 75 years of Civil Defence in Ireland

This will be the first of a number of events throughout the year to commemorate this anniversary and to recognise the commitment of volunteers over the years

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris approves development of State-of-the-Art new Headquarters and Training Centre for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW)

€46.3 million project to begin construction this year

Tánaiste Simon Harris officially opens Roscommon Civil Defence Headquarters

The new purpose-built facility was completed at a cost of €2.6 million and will ensure that Civil Defence volunteers can train and exercise safely in order to respond in a range of emergency and non-emergency scenarios

Tánaiste officially opens new Emergency Aeromedical Service helicopter hangar in Athlone

The service, which has been in operation since 2012, is based at Custume Barracks, Athlone

General Publications

General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 21 May 2025

Protected Disclosures Annual Report 2024 26 March 2025

Ministerial Brief 2025 27 January 2025

View all

Press Releases

Tánaiste Simon Harris thanks outgoing Chief of Staff Seán Clancy at Transfer of Authority Ceremony 23 May 2025

Commissioning Ceremony of the Air Corps Pilot Cadet Class 2023 19 May 2025

Uachtaráin na hEireann marks 75 years of Civil Defence in Ireland 8 May 2025

View all

Speeches

Keynote speech by Tánaiste Simon Harris at PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference 14 May 2025

Speech by Tánaiste Simon Harris at official opening of Roscommon Civil Defence Building 11 April 2025

Address by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris at official opening of the new EAS Hangar Custume Barracks, Athlone 11 April 2025

View all

Policies

Defence

Defence Policy Review

High-level goal at the Department of Defence

Ministers

Simon Harris

Minister for Defence , Tánaiste , Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Thomas Byrne

Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and Defence

Senior Management

Jacqui McCrum

Secretary General of the Department of Defence

Aileen Nolan

Assistant Secretary Corporate Affairs

Bernie Maguire

Assistant Secretary, Defence & Security Policy

Eamonn Murtagh

Assistant Secretary for Strategic Change & Capability Development

Jason Kearney

Director of Emergency, Operations and Infrastructure Oversight

Stephen Hall

Acting Assistant Secretary, IRG Implementation Division

Clare Tiernan

Assistant Secretary, Defence Capability People Policy

About

The Department of Defence is one of the government departments primarily concerned with ensuring the secure and stable environment necessary for economic growth and development.