Sam McBride argues that the strength of the Irish Army is a crude barometer of how seriously the Republic takes the possibility of unity. 

Ireland’s Defence Forces are small, underequipped and getting weaker as more and more service men and women abandon the ranks due to poor pay and conditions.  

But what about a united Ireland – if loyalism chose to resist it would Ireland’s armed forces be able to deal with that? 

This is part three of a three-part series. 

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Advertisement