Page 3 - Signal_winter_17_web

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

VIEW OF THE WORLD: THE WORK OF OVERSEAS SECTION 08
We talk to Lt Col Mark Hearns and his team at McKee Barracks about their role
in the successful, and safe, management of Defence Forces overseas operations.

RACO BIENNIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 2017 16
The key themes, issues and commentary from the event at Killashee House Hotel.

RACO PRESIDENT’S SPEECH 25
Commandant (Comdt) Shane Keogh’s speech to the RACO Biennial Delegate Conference.

THE CRITICAL LINK-INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SUPPORTING OPERATIONAL OUTPUT 31
Association Gen Sec Earnán Naughton on the current situation regarding the Defence
Forces and their access, or lack of access, to effective industrial relations mechanisms.

PHOTOS FROM RACO BDC 2017 38
A selection of images from both days of the delegate conference.

FORMER MEMBER INTERVIEW: CAPTAIN (RET’D) JOHN AHERNE 49
Former Defence Forces Captain John Aherne reflects on his Defence Forces career,
the reality of having to leave and the opportunities that have opened up since.

PESCO: NEW EU DEFENCE ARCHITECTURE 53
We look at what is involved with the recently announced PESCO framework and
what it will mean for countries who participate.

THE NEXT MOVE: VIEWPOINTS FROM ISRAEL & PALESTINE 60
We talk to the Ambassadors of both Israel and Palestine to Ireland about the
possibility of any progress in this most intractable of regional conflicts.

Vol 15 Issue 2
Winter 2017
08

16 53 60

| WINTER ‘17 | | 1