The main soldiers' staff association has suggested that the Government apply for EU funding for the Defence Forces so that it can fulfil a future European security or defence role.
The Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) also criticised the Government and the Department of Defence for engaging in a "plot" to further reduce the size of the Defence Forces.
The accusation was levelled by the PDFORRA general secretary, Mr John Lucey, at his association's annual conference which ended yesterday in Ennis.
Mr Lucey said that the Defence Forces were in a trough and needed major investment in equipment and personnel if they were to fulfil any European security function. He expected the Government would use the forthcoming White Paper review of the Defence Forces as a means to further reduce their size. He pointed out that the Army was in the process of being reduced from a fivebrigade to a three-brigade structure and he expected it would be further reduced to two brigades.
He said: "It is so clear and so obvious that the only purpose of the White Paper, based on the terms of reference as laid down, is to further decimate and humiliate the Defence Forces.
"It is imperative that this Minister and this Government do not stand over a White Paper exercise which is nothing more than another review and another element in the overall plot to downsize the Defence Forces out of existence.
"Morale is at breaking point. There is massive uncertainty, as the restructuring has been a disaster, primarily due to lack of funding. Our equipment is so out of date that we are automatically excluded from high-profile missions."
