Ireland
Military: Ireland
Military branches:
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Force: Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (5 years IDF, 7 years RDF); EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,179,125
females age 16-49: 1,163,728 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 977,631
females age 16-49: 965,900 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 28,564
female: 27,197 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
country comparison to the world: 136
Transnational Issues: Ireland
Disputes - international:
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 73 (2012)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern