The Progressive Democrats called on the Minister for Defence yesterday to withdraw his White Paper recommendations on cutting the Defence Forces strength by 1,000 soldiers.
The call was made by the PDs' national chairman, Mr John Minihan of Cork, who is a former Army officer. It comes amid growing concern within the Defence Forces about the likely effects of the proposed cuts.
An internal Defence Forces document giving the initial response to the White Paper, which has been seen by The Irish Times, says the proposed cuts would produce an "unbalanced" Army structure and reduce its capability to participate in peacekeeping.
One senior military source said there could be a crisis in the Defence Forces if the recommendations were implemented.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, issued a statement yesterday defending the White Paper, which was leaked widely to journalists on Thursday although it is not due for formal publication for some weeks.
He described the plan to cut the established strength from 11,500 to 10,500 as a "small reduction", and said the recommendations would produce a "world-class military organisation". Mr Smith had "every confidence that the Defence Forces will rise to meet the challenge of completing the necessary reform process".
However, the internal Defence Forces document giving the initial response to the White Paper is sharply at odds with the Minister's views.
The document states that there is "no justification" in the evolving defence and security environment at home and abroad for reducing personnel by 1,000.
It says the organisation structure proposed in the White Paper, which was drawn up by the Civil Service, will produce an "unbalanced Army structure which does not reflect international norms for a conventional all-arms brigade structure".
The reduction in the number of specialised units "will reduce our capability to participate in contemporary peacekeeping operations", it says.
Mr Minihan said yesterday: "The Government must reject these proposals from Minister Smith which, if implemented, would effectively destroy our Defence Forces and make it totally impossible to operate without a critical mass of people.
"At a time when the State has taken on additional responsibilities with Partnership for Peace (PfP) and the EU Helsinki Agreement (which commits the State to providing military support for an EU rapid response force), it is crazy to contemplate a further reduction in personnel.
"This decision would make it impossible for Ireland to further develop the important international peacekeeping and humanitarian aid role which we have undertaken with distinction for 40 years."