Ireland has maintained a policy of military neutrality for decades—but neutrality does not mean opting out of defence.
After decades of comparatively low investment, Ireland's defence capabilities now face serious gaps in areas ranging from military radar and maritime surveillance to airspace monitoring and responses to modern hybrid and drone threats. At the same time, Ireland increasingly relies on external partners for capabilities essential to its national security.
So what does that mean for Irish neutrality—and for Irish sovereignty?
If Ireland wants to remain neutral, is it prepared to invest in the capabilities needed to defend that neutrality? Or does reliance on other countries for essential security capabilities create a contradiction at the heart of Ireland's model of military neutrality?
And while NATO membership is sometimes presented as an alternative, alliance membership also comes with financial, military and political obligations.
In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, Neil O'Sullivan speaks with Cathal Berry, Director of Public Affairs for Red Flag, former TD and former Irish Army Ranger Captain.
Recorded on the sidelines of the 2026 MacGill Summer School following a debate on Irish neutrality, Cathal discusses the consequences of decades of underinvestment in Irish defence, the vulnerabilities this has created, Ireland's dependence on external partners, and the challenges posed by an increasingly uncertain security environment.
And - can Ireland be genuinely neutral, sovereign and secure without being prepared to pay for the defence capabilities necessary to protect that independence?
Date of Recording: July 24th, 2026.
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| Insert Photo of Cathal Berry courtesy of Johnny Bambury, MacGill Summer School |
DIVE DEEPER:
- Ireland's security model is approaching its limits - Charlie Edwards, International Institute for Strategic Studies (August 13th, 2026)
- Nato chief calls for 'conversation' on usefulness of Irish neutrality in changing world - Conor Gallagher, The Irish Times (August 12th, 2026)
- Government approves next phase of the Military Radar Programme - Department of Defence, Government of Ireland (July 30th, 2026)
- Government clears next hurdle in €300m+ plan to purchase military radar systems from France - Niall O'Connor, The Journal.ie (July 30th, 2026)
- Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2026 - 2029 - Department of Defence, Government of Ireland (July 16th, 2026)
- Ireland to be referred to EU Court of Justice for failing to implement cybersecurity directive - Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner (July 8th, 2026)
- Ireland remains bottom of EU table for defence spending, new report shows - Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner (July 17th, 2026)
- Ireland enjoys benefits of Nato without downsides, says US envoy to military alliance - Conor Gallagher, The Irish Times (June 22nd, 2026)
- 'Hostile' agents feared to be among 14,000 Russians granted Irish visas in four years - Conor Gallagher, The Irish Times (May 28th, 2026)
- Revealed: Chinese spy network tried to target Verona Murphy - John Mooney, The Times (May 9th, 2026)
- Intelligence leader tells how Ireland faces up to Russia and China - John Mooney, The Times (December 20th, 2025)
- Relations with Ireland - Partnerships and Cooperation, NATO (December 9th, 2025)
- Ireland's neutrality is widely regarded as a joke. It's time we got real - Stephen Collins, The Irish Times (October 31st, 2025)
- Budget 2026: Record €1.5 billion for Defence - Department of Defence, Government of Ireland (October 7th, 2025)
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