This White Paper on Defence sets out the Government’s defence policy for the next decade. It provides a framework that will enable a flexible and adaptive response to any adverse changes in a dynamic security environment. It also sets out the security tasks that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will undertake in supporting those other departments and agencies which are constituent parts of the State’s security architecture. In addition, the White Paper sets out the Government’s policy on using defence resources in other non-security roles for the benefit of the State.

The key objectives of the White Paper are:
• To provide a medium term policy framework for defence that is flexible and responsive having regard to the dynamic nature of the security environment and the key role that Defence plays in the State’s security architecture;
• To give appropriate underpinning to Ireland’s engagement in international bodies particularly the United Nations and the European Union;
• To ensure that the stated roles of the Defence Forces are consistent with requirements;
• Building on recent re-organisation measures for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), to guide and underpin decisions relating to the capacity of the Defence Organisation to include: corporate skills, organisation, force composition and equipment acquisition over the next ten years;
• To underpin the development of required civil and military capabilities with an appropriate multi-annual resource commitment;
• To sustain and develop the Defence Organisation as one in which people are proud to serve;
• To ensure defence policy contributes in a congruent way with wider social and economic policy.