| Infantry Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 October 1924[1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Role | Multiple roles |
| Size | 18 Battalions, Including reserve. |
The Irish Army Infantry Corps is the largest component of the Irish Army. Infantry soldiers are regarded as operational troops who must be prepared for tactical deployment in any location at short notice. In wartime this means that they will be among the front line troops in the defence of the State. In peacetime however they can be seen daily performing operational duties in Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) such as providing escorts to cash, prisoner or explosive shipments, patrols of vital state installations and border patrols, including check points.
The infantry corps consists of a total of eighteen battalions. Of these, nine are regular army with three assigned to each of the three brigades. The three brigades have three mirror reserve brigades, each of which have three reserve infantry battalions. A single company of the 3rd Infantry Battalion is stationed at the Defence Force Training Centre, and serves as the training unit for the Mowag APC.
An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe (English: The First Infantry Battalion) was established as an Irish language speaking unit in Galway in 1924. The role of An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe was seen as very important as far as the status and use of the first official language (Irish Gaelic) of the State was concerned.[2] All the armed forces units except An Chéad Cathlán functioned exclusively through the medium of the State's second official language (English). In modern times, the use of Irish Gaelic as a working language in Óglaigh na hÉireann would appear to have been abandoned, even in An Chéad Chathlán. The then Minister for Defence, Mr O'Toole ( 4 December 1986) presented details regarding the recruitment of native Gaelic speakers to An Chéad Chathlán. These details show that no recruit from a Gaeltacht area was enlisted into the batallion in 1983...[3] Under the 'Defence Forces [sic] Scheme' 2006-2009 ( under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003) Óglaigh na hÉireann have undertaken to improve the delivery of services in Irish Gaelic to the public. The aim of the Official Languages Act 2003 is to increase and improve in an organised manner over a period of time the quantity and quality of services provided for the public through Irish by public bodies. The legislation intends to create a space for the language in public affairs in Ireland.,[4] It is noteworthy that the term public means individuals, legal persons and corporate bodies. It does not, however, include persons who are acting in a capacity which is representative of the State, Government or, where appropriate, contractor personnel, providing a service on behalf of Óglaigh na hÉireann.[5] Consequently, persons who fulfil official functions of a public nature, even though they are legal persons, do not come within the meaning of the word public when they are fulfilling those official functions. Only in Gaeltacht areas is there an onus on Óglaigh na hÉireann to use Irish Gaelic as the working language of the force. Section 13(2)(e) of the Official Languages Act states that a Public Body shall " ensure that the Irish language becomes the working language in its offices in the Gaeltacht not later than such date as may be determined by it with the consent of the Minister."[6] There are no permanently manned Barracks or Posts of Óglaigh na hÉireann in Gaeltacht regions, "there are, however, training centres of na hÓglaigh Chúltaca (Irish Army Reserve) manned on a part-time basis in the following locations: Carna, Maigh Cuilinn, An Cheathrú Rua, An Daingean." Under its agreed Language Scheme Óglaigh an hÉireann "will ensure that, by 2012, Irish will become the working language of these locations."