My appearance on @rtenews from late 2025… speaking about fallout for @fiannafailparty from #Aras2025 debacle

Delighted that Joe and his team could dedicate an episode of Mahon’s Way to Limavady, showcasing our town and its rich history. I was very happy to provide historical details on a number of topics for the programme, but especially to help tell the story of Rev William King.

I fear with the end of o erseas missions we'll see your number actually be lower by the end of 2027 if no replacement mission is found but not one is viable as we wouldn't be equipped for it.

My prediction for end 2028 is, at best, 8200. There is no intent in Govt / DoD to ever reach 11500.

RT @roy_kinsella: NO accountability ⚠️ this is failure

RT @NiallJournal_ie: Defence Forces will not reach target of 11,500 personnel by 2028 despite recruitment commitments t.co/5ujNkhdm…

This is a shocking admission the most this government expects to deliver is a force strength of 8700 by the end of 2027 (i.e. start of 2028). The government committed to deliver an #LOA2 force strength of 11500 in 2028!! Even with a 500 extra in 2028 itself, that's a shortfall of 2300!!

RT @roy_kinsella: 📍7.9% increase in the Defence budget (€1.49Bn to €1.607Bn) ONLY

Carl won’t be dissuaded from doing the right thing by this. I can guarantee you that.

Not only that, the 9% increase isn't 9% either. More like 7.8%

The govt commitment to reach #LOA2+ in 2028 is shattered. Current rate of recruitment of 850 new personnel a year (minus 400-500 who leave) means net increases of 400-450 per year, each year. The maths don't add up. We need 3,500 extra men and women. That puts achievement 8 years away... at best!

The Scottish Parliament has just overwhelmingly voted to support Scotland's future in the EU. Scotland is a proud European nation, and we want to be back. 🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The headline figures being spun by the Defence minister and others are contrived to give the appearance that the government is doing more than it is. And they have recent form on this, as we saw

Pleased to appear on @rtenews @morningireland earlier today with @AislingTM to discuss #Budget2027 - play clip here: derekmooney.ie/media/

Encouraging to hear the News Letter making waves on the radio for its journalism - with an exclusive from today’s P1 leading the conversation. There’s something rather satisfying about the journalism making news, rather than the views. Thanks to @SJBretty and now @StephenNolan.

I assume @barrymward has already resigned the party whip as he is so stridently opposed to government policy... irishtimes.com/crime-law/cou…

Gerard Howlin: Tomorrow’s budget may be the worst since the days of Charles Haughey’s wild spending irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/…

Was honoured to have a chat with @DSMooney about the politics of the past, the parties of the future -and all in between….@cooper_m @VirginMediaNews @JohnEdwardLee @MichealLehane @NTBreakfast @rtenews @RuthDavidsonPC open.spotify.com/episode/14m…