Brig Gen Rossa Mulcahy appointed new Irish Defence Forces chief

Brig Gen Rossa Mulcahy has been appointed as the next Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.

Announcing the appointment, the Defence Forces said that Brig Gen Mulcahy has more than 35 years of experience across a variety of roles, both at home and overseas.

He has served in deployments to Lebanon, Syria and Afghanistan with the United Nations and NATO.

Since 2021, he has held the role of assistant chief of staff and he is due to take up the new appointment on 1 June.

The announcement follows the Irish government’s nomination of the outgoing Chief of Staff Seán Clancy as chair of the EU Military Committee.

In his current role, Brig Gen Mulcahy has responsibility for a range of organisational issues including; organisation transformation, capability development, innovation, risk management, corporate governance, and industrial relations.

He holds bachelor’s degrees from the National University of Ireland Galway and University College Dublin, and a master’s degree in Leadership Management and Defence Studies.

He is a graduate of the Defence Forces’ Senior Command and Staff Course and the US Army Command and General Staff College.

Irish Broadcaster RTÉ reported that Brig Gen Mulcahy will be appointed for a minimum of two years, during which time major changes to the Defence Force’s command structures are set to be introduced.

This includes a new position of chief of defence, which Brig Gen Mulcahy will be eligible to apply for.

Under new plans, the chief of defence will have military control with clearer statutory roles and responsibilities, and more clarity in the defined roles of the Department of Defence and Defence Forces.

Brig Gen Mulcahy’s appointment comes as Ireland moves to remove what is known as the triple lock, which governs the deployment of Irish troops abroad.

Under existing rules, 12 members of the Irish Defence Forces can be sent on an overseas mission without triggering the lock.

Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said that the triple lock could be increased from 12 to 50 members.

Ireland has to be “agile” and be in a position to get Irish citizens out of danger, Mr Harris added.

Currently any further deployment requires the approval of the United Nations, the government, and the Dáil (lower house of the Irish parliament).

The Irish government have proposed removing the requirement for UN approval.

Sinn Féin have described this as a dilution of Ireland’s policy of neutrality.

Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin has said that Russia and China should not have a veto on where Irish troops are sent.