'They can't defend themselves, let alone anybody else' - DUP leader says Ireland needs to boost 'pitiful' defence spending

Mr. Robinson criticized Ireland for depending on the UK for defense, stating the Irish navy is ineffective. As Taoiseach Micheál Martin heads to an EU summit discussing security, Tániste Simon Harris is set to propose changes to the 'triple lock' policy governing Irish peacekeeping deployments. Robinson urged the Irish government to invest more in its defense infrastructure, arguing that Ireland cannot adequately defend itself or participate in international defence roles without improving its military capabilities.

They have to put more money in their own defence. For far too long the Republic of Ireland Government have rested on the defence of the United Kingdom.

They will talk in the next number of weeks about how proud they are, and in the Dáil they are now considering legislative change to remove the triple lock which prevents the Irish Republic from ever deploying their armed forces.

Read at Irish Independent