General

Ireland's armed forces are organised under the Irish Defence Forces (Óglaigh na hÉireann). The Irish Army is relatively small compared to other neighbouring armies in the region, but is well equipped, with 8,500 full-time military personnel (13,000 in the reserve army). This is principally due to Ireland's policy of neutrality, and its "triple-lock" rules governing participation in conflicts whereby approval must be given by the UN, the Government and the Dáil before any Irish troops are deployed into a conflict zone.

Deployments of Irish soldiers cover UN peace-keeping duties, protection of the Republic's territorial waters (in the case of the Irish Naval Service) and Aid to Civil Power operations in the state. There is also an Irish Air Corps and Reserve Defence Forces (Irish Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) under the Defence Forces. The Irish Army Rangers is a special forces branch which operates under the aegis of the army.

Over 40,000 Irish servicemen have served in UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The Republic's air facilities were used by the U.S. military, for the delivery of military personnel involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq through Shannon Airport; previously the airport had been used for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. This is part of a longer history of use of Shannon for controversial military transport, which is largely unbiased towards any particular military alliance. The airport was used previously by the US in the First Gulf War and by the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Military branches
Irish Defence Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps) (2006)

Military service age and obligation
17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)

Manpower available for military service
males age 17-49: 977,092
females age 17-49: 978,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 17-49: 814,768
females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49: 29,327
females age 17-49: 28,139 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.9% (2005 est.)