THE association representing the "non commissioned" ranks of the Defence Force has said it was "lied to" over the redundancy scheme for soldiers.
The Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) also accused the Department of Defence of implementing medical conditions which would force 400 soldiers to accept what is termed a "voluntary early retirement" scheme or be made redundant.
PDFORRA's general secretary, Mr John Lucey, was responding to the Government's final proposals to reduce the size of the Defence Forces from about 13,000 to 11,500.
The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO), broadly welcomed the tax free voluntary retirement payments being offered.
However, PDFORRA was clearly angered at the proposals and the decision to release details to it and to the media simultaneously.
Mr Lucey said "They did the dirty on us. Basically, they lied to us. We were told that the VER [voluntary early retirement] was not written in stone and given assurances that there would be consultations with a view to reaching agreement. There are big questions about that. I am absolutely appalled."
He said that, under the proposed system of payments, non commissioned officers would receive much less than the commissioned ranks.
He also said that 400 soldiers were facing medical reviews which could result in them being defined as "Medical Category E" which would result in them being forced into redundancy.
At a press briefing yesterday, the Department of Defence said it expected that 2,300 members of the Defence Forces would accept voluntary early retirement. Of these 1,400 were described as "Medical Category C" which meant they were unfit for soldiering duties. A further 600 members were over the age of 50.
The Department also anticipated that about 400 officers who were recruited in the mid 1970s and who were mainly in the ranks of captain to commandant, would also apply for voluntary retirement.
It was expected that between 450 and 500 service personnel would seek the tax free early retirement payments this year.