#655 Army Recruitment Crisis: Inclusion or Desperation?

This week, host Niall sits down with Senator Sharon Keoghan to unpack the controversy surrounding recent comments about diversity recruitment in the Irish Defence Forces.

After the Defence Minister spoke about making recruitment more diverse — including the possibility of international protection applicants joining — Senator Keoghan described the idea as “madness,” questioning loyalty, national security, and whether fast-tracking citizenship through military service could pose risks to Irish society.

But is it really such a radical idea? Or, as some commentators argue, could broadening recruitment be one of the few realistic ways to address falling enlistment numbers — especially when public debate continues about the purpose, cost, and role of Ireland’s Defence Forces?

Niall and Senator Keoghan explore:

• The reasoning behind her remarks

• The Defence Forces’ role in modern Ireland

• Whether diversity in recruitment strengthens or weakens national security

• And the bigger question: do we actually need a standing defence force at all?

A thoughtful, challenging conversation about defence, identity, and the future of Ireland’s military.