The Government will need a much bigger military if Ireland is united, a defence expert has claimed. 

Former TD and Army officer Cathal Berry said Irish unity would be a “major security challenge” for the State. 

He also warned that northern voters would expect a higher level of protection than what is currently on offer south of the border. 

“They’d have concerns about the Republic’s ability to police its own jurisdiction at the moment - let alone the whole island,” Mr Berry told Newstalk Breakfast.  

“So, if we’re serious about planning for reunification, we have to up our game from a defence and security point of view.” 

Mr Berry warned that while the Defence Forces currently have “the quality of people, for sure”, the current level of funding is insufficient. 

“We don’t even have the technology to do our jobs, so that is the issue,” he explained. 

“We’ve got superb soldiers, sailors and aviators - the difficulty is we don’t have the quantity of them and the technology for them to do their job.” 

Irish soldiers. Picture by: Andy Gibson / Alamy.

Mr Berry added that while he welcomes the increase in defence spending forecast in the National Development Plan, he believes it will still prove “insufficient”. 

“In addition to the National Development Plan, over the next five budgets, more funding will be required,” he said. 

“Also, EU funds will have to come onstream as well if we are to improve.” 

Mr Berry continued that as recently as 2010, Ireland had a “far better defence capability”. 

“We had 10,500 people in the Defence Forces full time,” he said. 

“Now there’s only 7,500 - so, it’s a 30% reduction in headcount, only in 15 years.

“15 years ago, we could put eight naval ships to sea; unfortunately, we can barely put one to sea now. 

“Even by Irish standards, our ability and our capability has dropped significantly.” 

Irish soldiers. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

One consequence of Ireland’s poor defence capabilities is that many believe the State is a soft target for smuggling. 

“We know the drug dealers are very liberal and well able to operate off our south and our west coast,” Mr Berry said. 

“Every town in Ireland, every village in Ireland has a drugs problem. 

“There’s a reason for that; it’s because we can’t control our maritime borders.” 

In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised to increase the number of people serving in the Defence Forces to 11,500.

Main image: Members of the Defence Forces and Tánaiste Simon Harris. Picture by: Alamy.com.