A major development of our defence forces is necessary following the Report of the Commission of the Defence Forces, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, a TD for Dún Laoghaire, said that we can be “ambitious” with our goals for the military.

“There is a need to get quickly to ambition level 2 and to provide a pathway to ensure that this State can properly protect itself and its surrounds and respond to the needs of our citizens in difficulties around the world,” she said.

“Brexit has proven that the stability of status quo cannot be taken for granted and we have a need to develop the security of the East Coast (see Dun Laoghaire story) and the capacity to patrol the Irish sea effectively.

“The report clearly identifies the need for an enhanced national Recognised Maritime Picture to monitor Ireland’s territorial waters and Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”

The Dublin People has more to report.