Chief of Defence Forces appointed as head of EU Military Committee

The Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sean Clancy, has been elected as the chair of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), making him the first Irish person to hold the position. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin praised the appointment as significant, highlighting the training and capability of the Irish defense forces.

During the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) conference, Mr. Martin announced Lt Gen Clancy’s new role, which he will assume in May 2025. The promotion will temporarily elevate him to a four-star general while serving in Brussels, Belgium. Meanwhile, PDFORRA President Mark Keane raised concerns about recruitment and retention challenges within the defense forces, stressing the importance of addressing issues such as payment allowances, implementing regulations, and grievance processes to reach the government’s target of 11,500 personnel by 2028.