The Irish Defence Forces have released a new video showing what it takes to serve in Ireland’s most elite unit.

The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) is the army’s special operations unit based in the Curragh Camp in Kildare.

The unit is on call 24-7 to respond to dangerous incidents in any part of the country – including any potential terror attack or hostage situation.

While the unit is a branch of the army, it also selects personnel from other sectors of the Defence Forces.

The release of the video coincides with government plans to step up its contingency plan for dealing with any potential terror attack.

During a visit to the Curragh Camp yesterday, The minister of state with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe said the ARW will be given a more direct and high profile role in responding to national security threats.

He confirmed the government’s commitment to “increasing the strength of the unit considerably” as recommended in the 2015 White Paper on Defence – adding that there will be increased cooperation between the unit and armed gardaí moving forward.

The minister of state with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe meets the ARW in the Curragh, 25-07-2017 (faces blurred to protect identity of special forces personnel). Image: Department of Defence.

“At the recent Government Security Committee meeting, we agreed that further exercises will be staged on a joint basis between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána, involving the fire service, ambulance service and other response agencies,” Said Mr Kehoe.

“As Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning I will continue to encourage and support such exercises.”

The new Security Committee met for the first time earlier this month.