Commission on the Defence Forces Public Consultation Response Royal Submission to the Commission on the Defence Forces 18th March 2021

1. Capabilities – In this regard, you may wish to consider future integrated capability development and the planning and delivery requirements to support a joint force approach in terms of new equipment, professional military education and training, maintenance and development of infrastructure, developments in military doctrine, and transformative concepts, including specialist capabilities, that prepare and support the Defence Forces for future operations.

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2. Structures – In this regard, you may wish to consider the most effective high-level Command and Control (C2) structures within the Defence Forces to ensure an agile and balanced approach that can function across all domains at home and overseas.

Additionally, you may wish to address appropriate future force structures for the Army (including its brigade structure), the Air Corps, and the Naval Service, individually as component services and collectively as part of an integrated joint force approach.

Furthermore, you may wish to address the changing nature of reservists, which presents an opportunity for the Reserve Defence Force to further integrate and support the Permanent Defence Force through the provision of enhanced collective and specialist capability across all domains.

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3. Staffing – In this regard you may wish to consider the HR policies that support the requirement for an agile and adaptive modern military force. You may wish to consider issues such as recruitment and retention, organisational culture and values, gender and diversity, career progression, and industrial relations machinery.

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4. Any other comments you may wish to make in relation to the Defence Forces having regard to the Commission’s Terms of Reference

Royal Cork Yacht Club Submission to the Commission on the Defence Forces

18th March 2021

The Navy are an integral part of the Irish Defence Force and have a vital role to play in supporting sea users around the coast of Ireland and specifically in our case, .

The Navy’s support for various National and International maritime events hosted by our Club and the many other Clubs around Cork Harbour is important to us all. The Navy have supplied safety assistance on the water, hosted foreign dignitaries at the Naval Base on and have supported many event launches and opening ceremonies down through the years. Protection on the water encompassing both eco-protection and domestic security is becoming more and more essential to our environment and our safety respectively.

"Ireland’s Ocean Economy" in June 2019 shows the marine tourism and leisure sector, as a significant stakeholder in the marine sector. According to the report, compiled by Semru, the social-economic marine research unit, the marine tourism and leisure sector has an annual turnover in excess of €1bn and employees almost 16,000 people.

Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (HOOW) 2015 identifies our ocean is a national asset, supporting a diverse economy, with vast potential to tap into the global marine market for: seafood, tourism, energy, and new applications for health, medicine and technology. In parallel, our marine resource gives us many non-commercial benefits; for example, amenity, biodiversity and our mild climate.

HOOW recognises that the creation of the conditions needed for economic growth, investment and job creation depend on the State ensuring a safe, secure and protected environment consistent with best international standards of governance and the protection of the maritime environment. In order to provide assurances to investors and meet our international obligations, therefore Ireland must continually improve national capabilities in the area of security, safety, surveillance and eco-protection of the maritime domain.

This is achieved through the states’ principle seagoing agency the Irish Naval Service.

We are an Island nation dependant on trade and energy by sea and therefore it is paramount that we have a fully resourced Navy that is in a strong position to defend and protect Ireland's maritime interest at home and abroad.

The Navy would be further strengthened by a Naval Reserve that allows for expertise in the private sector to be used where and when required or for a surge in numbers as highlighted by Covid 19. Sailing Clubs have within their membership a vast amount of expertise all of which have an interest and understanding of sailing and the maritime environment. This is a resource that should be available through the Naval Service Reserve to the navy.

Looking to the future 2030 and beyond the EU will have a very strong influence on Ireland. In the European Parliamentary Research Service brief dated February 2021 "Charting a course through

stormy waters" it states the EU's strategic maritime interests are multi-dimensional - ranging from freedom of navigation and safe maritime infrastructure to promoting peace and security and attaining climate change preparedness.

To sustain and develop sailing and the maritime tourism and leisure sector in Ireland a safe and secure environment is required. Having a well resourced Navy will ensure this.