Page 2 - Signal Summer 2018

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RACO OPINION 03
By Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Earnán Naughton, RACO General Secretary.

RACO SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 06
RACO held it’s SDC in early May to elect its various Formation and Service
representatives. Photos from the event courtesy of Lt Cdr Phil Watson.

SECOND SUBMISSION TO PUBLIC SERVICES PAY COMMISSION 11
RACO recently made its second submission to the PSPC on core issues facing
members. RACO Gen Sec Lt Col Earnán Naughton provides a summary.

EUROPEAN AND IRISH SECURITY AND DEFENCE 19
A Fine Gael originated discussion paper on the need for a debate and re-evaluation
of Irish defence needs was published in March. We provide a summary.

OPINION: 23
Brian Hayes MEP on why Irish Security and defence require proper resourcing and
investment.

FROM INFANTRY TO MEDICINE 28
Comdt Cathal Berry recently made a transition to the Medical Corps, a move which
requires considerable dedication considering the required training. We talked to him
about his new role and what the future may hold.

EYE IN THE SKY: DRONES AND THE NAVAL SERVICE 33
SIGNAL talked to Lt Cdr Phil Watson about the perspectives which drone technology
provides the Naval Service with after its successful pilot operation in the
Mediterranean.

BEAST FROM THE EAST: A LIEUTENANT’S PERSPECTIVE 37
Second Lieutenant Patrick Tobin on the unique challenges and ‘outside the box’
thinking which was required to respond to the extreme weather patterns that hit the
country in late February/ early March.
Vol 16 Issue 1
Summer 2018 BREXIT & EU SECURITY 41
A look at the dynamics of the EU defence landscape, and that of the UK, and some
opinions on what can be done to leverage some benefit and minimise the damage
done to EU security by Brexit.

FORMER MEMBER INTERVIEW 49
Captain (Ret’d) Ray Gammell, now a Senior Executive with Etihad Airways, on how the
Defence Forces are the ultimate learning machine.

PERSONAL FINANCE 56
A look at rental income and tax implications from Rory Coll.

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