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LAST UPDATE | 15 May 2024
THE CHIEF OF Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sean Clancy has been appointed as the chair of the European Union military committee.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy has been in Europe in recent weeks and visited a number of countries to discuss his candidature for the chair of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC).
Clancy will take over the top job from Austrian General Robert Brieger.
The EUMC announced the results after a ballot of member state military leaders.
Speaking in Cavan at the PDFORRA annual conference Tánaiste Micheál Martin who is Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs congratulated Clancy and said it was “clearly a win” for Irish diplomacy.
“There was a sense that his campaign had been going very well – he did a lot of ground work and he is clearly very well thought of across the European Union in terms of clarity of thought and strategic thinking.
“It does reflect that our personnel are of a very high standard and this is the first time to my knowledge that an Irish man has achieved this very prestigious position within the European Union and reflects very well on the Defence Forces more generally and on their training.
“It says a lot about the standards of our Defence Forces,” he said.
Martin said that it was a “significant position” and added it was “very important for us to be part of what is happening in Europe”.
The Chief of Staff of Óglaigh na hÉireann, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, has today been elected as the next Chair of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) by the Chiefs of Defence of the 27 EU Member States. The EUMC is the highest military body within the European Council and is… pic.twitter.com/rM46F8ZrfV
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) May 15, 2024
The Tánaiste got approval in March from Cabinet to formally nominate Clancy, currently Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, for election to the position.
Clancy will now leave his role as the leader of the Irish Defence Forces and would serve outside the State at the rank of General. He will also have a team of up to ten members of the Defence Forces as support staff.
The EUMC is the highest military body within the EU and was established in January 2001. The committee directs all military activity by the EU with particular attention on union military activities with the Common Security and Defence Policy.
It is not the first time an Irish candidate went for the EUMC chair job. Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, who was then Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, was not successful in 2017.
Clancy was up against a Slovenian and a Polish candidate.
Clancy is in Europe today for the announcement while Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Tánaiste Micheál Martin is due at the PDFORRA conference in Cavan.
With reporting from Muiris O’Cearbhaill.
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The betrayal of our neutrality accelerates. Joining the western military industry will also increase our position as a refugee destination and there will be plenty of room as the young people are forced to emigrate.
@Fearg: any facts to base this opinion on our are we supposed to just take the word of a person who won’t even supply their name. On a side note, what is the weather like in Moscow?
@Andy Dillon: why are you always on the offence when you know what they are saying is true.
@Fearg: what neutrality? Ireland wasnt neutral during WW2, we interned Germans and returned allied airmen !
@Fearg: This nonsense about our neutrality has to stop.
In WW2 we we neutral but on the side of the allies and now we are neutral on the side of Ukraine.
Regardless of the EU or NATO we are very happy to be part of a relatively wealthy, stable and free western culture and therefore we should be willing to step up if and when that culture is threatened.
And yes if that meant that I or my children or grandchildren had to take up arms and fight for what we believe in then 100% yes.
No more than anyone I don’t want to see my loved ones coming home in body bags but there comes a time when you have to stand up for what you believe in and not just depend on cowering behind our bigger neighbours.
Neutrality was policy of it’s time based on one man’s beliefs and historical context.
Time to move on.
@jak: Just why and how would Russia invade Ireland? A beautiful island we all agree, but what resource do we have here that they need and just how would they get here and maintain the troops if they cannot even take on Ukraine?
The world has been a dangerous place for a long time and the threat of a physical invasion to Ireland has not grown. Russia would need to get through all of eastern and western Europe to get to us. Their Navy is not capable of such operations and then maintaining the forces involved.
@Eamon De Valera: if it’s true, verify it with facts not opinion of a bot who is hiding their identity under a pseudonym, not unlike yourself. Easy.
@jak: Have you ever served? Like actually put your life at risk in an actual conflict? Not really a pleasant experience.
@George Vladisavljevic: I think it is more where we are situated, if you have Ireland conquered, you have a good spot to launch attacks on other members of Europe. Not saying it’s going to happen, but we are strategically in a good position.
@Fearg: what neutrality?
You mean deluded cowardice more like
@Fearg: don’t remember voting for neutrality???
@HAC: I agree with you in regard to it being very strategic, just that I really do not see Russia not being strong enough logistically to take and to hold Ireland.
@George Vladisavljevic: Russian bad actors were behind the vicious cyber attack against the HSE.
@Pat Hazzard: Would that mean that German or French hackers, for example, would be employed by their governments?
Which country were the hackers that got into Angela Merkel’s mobile phone, a few years ago, from? I will give you a hint NSA.
@HAC: exactly, and also as a forward base out into the North Atlantic.
European Army top job for Irish man ,the same week the government try to drop the triple lock and pass a Bill to silence the Army .Europe prepares for war ,and our Government is sorting our end of it and fairly lively too.
@Gerry Campbell: lt is hard to understand
@Gerry Campbell: it won’t be their kids fighting as per usual.
Slowly but surely this government are eroding our neutrality and forcing us into the industrial military complex clutches where we will have to contribute large amounts of our finances to enable a big European army to ward off the supposed threat of Russia more money for the big elites and more gravy for our willing gombeen politicians. This government have no interest in helping the irish people only want to pander to their masters in Europe
@Vincent Hickey: You lost the argument when you said “supposed threat of Russia”. The only thing that is ‘protecting’ Ireland now from dictatorships is our ‘silent allegiances’ to NATO and EU and we can’t keep on just taking without giving something in return eg Shannon. If there is a war, do you seriously think that those dictatorships will respect our ‘neutrality’ When the U.S deem Tik Tok a national security threat and self interest groups think their free speech right are more important then you know the ‘ fan is clogged’
@BarryH: The Bantry fishermen will sort them out.!!!!
@BarryH: if Gaza doesn’t give you an idea the way the world is turning – nothing will ! The US along with Zionists – they control everything ! The UN now just a joke !
Wishing him the very best of luck…great to see Irish Military being recognised.
@John Brown: Unless it’s a Russian sniper that recognises them,and that’s where our Government are hurtling towards.
@Gerry Campbell: and so we should be ‘hurtling’ towards…long past time we stopped relying on other countries to defend us from foreign threats..,
@John Brown: As long as its someone else doing the fighting or other people’s children ,you know those army types ?
@John Brown: the only foreign threats we face are being imported by the government.
@John Brown: will you be heading off yourself to fight the EU war? or will you leave it up to the women and children and elderly of this country to fight it for you? as all our young people are gone and no one want to Joint the Dept of Defence here in Ireland as it’s a complete mess and my family were all in the Defences here and saw real war when deployed over sea’s and seen devastating things that you’d only see in a movie. I can assure you not one of my grandkids will fight any war for any EU military or their unelected bureaucrats.
That makes no sense. It’s like promoting the local shopkeeper to become the CEO of Amaszon.
@John Dennehy: so as the saying goes ” if you don’t know who the Patsy is in a situation, it more than likely you” There’s method in their madness, you can be sure of it.
We are slowly being led into NATO or a pan European equivalent.
He probably is a brilliant man in his profession but I hope he doesn’t get the job. Ireland’s defences are in tatters and surely part of his remit is to fight to upgrade our defences, especially cyber defences but this hasn’t happened. We are the only country in Europe without Primary Radar ( pat Kenny) You need practical experience. Knowing the ‘theory’ in today’s world is not good enough.
@BarryH: he is actually a nice person but way out of his depth as COS of the defence forces….first off he is an air corps pilot officer……and fair play that’s the defence forces career he chose….but he will not be able to play the politics at that level in Europe….it will be very embarrassing for him and the country if he gets it considering we cant even provide the 150 troops to be part of the European battle group because they are being paid 15 euro a day
Admittedly I’m no military expert .. but does seem bit odd to me to promote some lad in charge of an army who doesn’t have 2 bullets to rub together and appoint him head of the EU military.. I’m probably being a tad facetious but is it not like giving Longford Towns manager the Man City gig..
@Brian: Clancy will be used as a patsy. The EU have identified us as soft, apathetic sheep. They will use Clancy to further their agenda knowing the traitors in Leinster House will support them and the Irish public will do eff all.
He must be a shoe in. I pray he doesn’t get it.
@paddy fc: your god has other ideas!
@Alan Kennedy: My God has plenty of time for you.
@paddy fc: well said!
Gradually this Govt are dragging out State into NATO & a European Army, without the consent of the people. Let us have a Referendum on this & let the voices of the Irish people be heard. Micheal Martin is manically pushing this agenda & you would have to question why, is there a role promised for him somewhere in all of this. One thing for sure, you won’t see the kids of any of our political class or Minister for Defence, on the front lines, but they will sacrifice young Irish men & women on some proxy war. Ironically this is an issue the right & the left actually agree on, everybody but our Govt who are clearly allowing themselves be pushed into this by the powers in Europe.
Irish defence forces?
What a joke.
@Marc Power: why explain urself
Top man in the Irish army, no navy to talk about, no airforce to talk about, foot soldiers that are so young they have not seen battle, this man won’t have much to talk about when he takes up his new job, but I’m sure he will do what he told!!
@Pat Thornton: You don’t seem to have much to talk about yourself, sure you go over and sort it all out for us!
@Chutes: I admit I would not have the ability to do this job and I wonder does this man, maybe you could enlighten me as to his achievements and experience in war situations in Europe?
Lots of gung-ho keyboard warriors on here seem to be just dying for a crack at some enemy or other! They won’t be doing the dying, of course, but I’m sure they’ll find that’s a risk worth taking nonetheless…
@William Tallon: I would imagine at least 99% want peace and are broken hearted looking at the devastation of man made conflict. Unfortunately there are situations where the pacifist approach hits a crossroads. Roll over and die or stand up to tyranny. I don’t think this is a keyboard warrior mindset, more an acceptance that hard painful decisions have to be made at times. Neutrality doesn’t really exist. Do you really think we’d be left standing without the big stick wielded by some of our allies? If we’re happy to enjoy this protection it’s only reasonable to ask whether we should contribute.
Any chance the new big man in Europe might tell Micheál Martin to pay our men and women who serve properly?
Not good
He will be useful!, what experience does he have fighting wars? Ireland is a neutral country
I’m as much of a pacifist as the next wannabe idealist but the world is changing rapidly. The west, so often spoken about in the worst possible terms is imperfect and often hypocritical. But how many would swap what we have for the joys of the theocracies and authoritarian states who crush dissent and difference without a second thought? We’re never going to reach peaceful perfection. Humans simply aren’t capable of it. Democracy with a free press and emphasis on individual rights is as good as we’re going to get. It’s all well and good being neutral but it’s pretty obvious this is more an ideal than an idea, that we can hold onto in the worst case scenario. We are for all intents and purposes, defenceless. We are wholly reliant on other countries coming to our rescue.
People who mention things about sending X Y or Z member of your family, I understand. It is easy to be glib typing away like a keyboard warrior. But things are extremely dangerous. We’ve already had Russian subs scouting off our coast. No one wants violence and war but sometimes this choice is removed. This is something that might require a referendum as sitting on the fence just isn’t going to cut it. Pacifism and neutrality are nice noble ideas. They are not realistic in the world we live in unfortunately.
Coming back to the point about sending your sons and daughters off to war. This is of course a horrible thought but equally might other countries not ask why is it only ours and not Ireland’s who will have to fight if the worst comes the worst? Sometimes there’s simply no choice.
Let the politicians leed from the front..that would stop all this nonsense we the people .shud make it quite clear to them at the. End of the day the people are the boss
@John Boyle: Not until they are on the streets they’re not. Otherwise Joe and Mary public have next to no power.
Ireland is an island but merely in a geographical sense.
Who they pick, this time, will have a very loud statement at this particular moment in time – a moment in time of instability, and foreign interference coming from within the EU itself towards it’s sister Nations, and coming from supposed “friendlies” like USA since Trump-era when Trump literally threatened to invade Ireland for Borris’ Brexit….and everyone ignored it.
If they fail and refuse to pick the Irish Candidate, that *will* be a statement of contempt against and toward non-NATO Nations. It will be an open declaration that the intent that all current and future development and exploration of expansion towards a fully fledged EU Army is intended to be a coercion of non-NATO Nations into, and under command of, a NATO Regime in all but name.
It will be an admission and confirmation of everything every pro-Peace, anti-Warmongering, anti-Colonialism, citizen of the EU has been saying – an “EU Military” intends to be a Fascitic, neo-anti-Semitic anti-Arab and anti-Muslim, neo-Colonialist invader. An Occupier. An *Offence* disposition Army, not a “Defence” disposition Army.
It will be a statement of confirmation that the EU not only has a blatant disregard for Neutral Nations, Neutrality choices and Democratically decided Constitutional positions that opposed an EU Army and joining an EU Army, but that the EU always had outright contempt for them and for the EU citizens within them.
Is this why they are trying to get us out of the Triple Lock? Because he, and 10 staff, would be working outside our borders for a sustained period of time? Does the “12″ restriction apply to “any and all active duty roles outside the borders of Ireland”? Or does it just apply to “each seperate unit operating outside the borders?” For example, could we have placed 12 on Peacekeeping in Lebanon AND 12 in Golan Heights simultaneously!!? Or does the Triple Lock restrict us to 12 **in total** outside our borders? Such that 5 in Lebanon, 5 in Golan Heights, would leave us with permission to only send 2 to evacuate citizens from Wuhan during a Pandemic Outbreak/Afghanistan during a mass international evacuation!? Because that is truly nuts!!
How can we claim to want to help Palestine when we wouldn’t be FREE to help Palestine (and Spain and Belgium) hold-the-line in Gaza ffs? Right now-literally not even an option for us to choose. Or offer to help Palestinian Authority protect their Governance and prevent another Arafat Compound siege+assassination?
Heck, we wouldn’t even be *FREE* to send our own Air Corp on an Aid Drop Mission over Gaza, because we can’t both man the UN Peacekeeping post in Lebanon, AND a Military Aircraft.
How pathetic!
Is that how we count “the 12″?
Even if it isn’t, we still don’t have the freedom to choose to fly over Gaza with Aid Drop if we chose to.
An UN lock is all well and good “on the honour system” …….if ALL Nations could be trusted to be decent, if the Cold War Nations didn’t constantly vote on Cold War lines, and if there wasn’t a sustained subversive attack on the UN.
America and Russia alike, with China and Israel, have total and utter contempt for the UN and everything it stands for. We can see now, clear as day, it isn’t just Donald Trump who has contempt for the UN and the Rule Of Law – it’s ALL of them!!! It’s more than the Cold War lines – as seen by all those who chose to defund UNRWA.
Hate to say it, but maybe it’s time the Opposition considered allowing the Irish Citizenry to choose what to “Lock”, and when. Such as: releasing us from the Triple Lock, but *only after* we have secured an unasailable legislative guarantee in place that permanently prohibits us from joining/participating in any Military activities led by NATO members or former Colonialists. That we only be permitted to cooperate with Nations that were former Colonies [Africa, Asia, Carribbean, Levant] and in defence of First Nations, and/or Nations formerly Occupied by a NATO Nation and/or are at risk of unjustified NATO invasion (zero evidence WMDs).
Maybe make the 3rd Lock, a people’s vote. Or a “Qualified Persons only”, Seanad Vote (no Party appointees, and only people from pertinent professions/qualification backgrounds).
Media is always so extreme vague about Triple Lock. Like, make sure now, ye tell the public absolutely nothin’ about anythin’. Leave them needing to hire their own Constitutional Lawyer to get basic answers to a basic Q&A you, the journos, should have carried out.
Whisht!
Make sure now, that nobody asks when was the last time Dáil members’, mobile phones and devices were audited for presence of Pegasus or other subversive tech’ …. yennow, after a series of direct contacts with the zionist regime!? (And, indeed, the treacherous Amerikkkans). Because if the Tánaiste and his travel team were not isolated before he went home and/or return to the Dáil, then the potential cross-contamination and re-infection rate is exponential across hundreds of thousands of contacts.
Or, indeed, when was the device security audit conducted following Mattie et al had contact with Tommy Robinson and/or the TUV+ReclaimUK+ReformUK Human Traffickers, when they conspired to collaborate and drum up the Bannon-Trump-Orban-like causation for Social Unrest and Political Attention+Votes? An/or to induce Ireland-EU to trigger Article16. Trafficking from London to Dublin, or Manchester to Dublin, is exactly like Trafficking from Texas to New York.
@Pink Freud:
How did you get that lot passed the 800 character limit??
@P. J.: Laptop/PC.. Character limit is only on the app on the phone.
@Pink Freud: Alas, a difficult read, but certainly some very relative points in there +1.
Give Paddy a Big job and he’ll do anything.
He should resign now and join the new army he is leading.
What an honour for him, his family and the Republic of Ireland.
Only knew him in passing when I served in the DF. Seemed like a good guy, I wish him all the best in this role.
Good one. Well done.
In a completely unrelated note, it seems very impolite to refer to the father who lost his son and wife in such tragic circumstances by his surname alone in the article about this tragedy.
Good to see Ireland taking up this role and with the EU battlegroup for the next 2 years so taking up a central role in EU- and by extension, Ireland’s – security. We have much catching up to do.
What’s his salary??
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