The Government won a vote on reform of the Defence Forces. A motion commending "the substantial progress achieved to date in implementing a balanced programme of reform" was carried by 63 votes to 53.
It was tabled in response to a Fianna Fail motion in private members time which condemned the "failure" of the Minister for Defence to articulate a coherent policy on most issues affecting his Department.
The Progressive Democrats supported FE. Ms Mairin Quill (Cork North Central) said the Government should spell out where Irish defence policy now stood. Morale in the forces was "on the floor". There was a total breakdown in communications between the Department and those in the services.
"There has been no really serious thinking on Irish defence since the time of the Emergency, as it was known during the second World War, a time when Ireland did face a real and unpredictable external threat. Since then we have been content by and large to muddle along."
Ms Kathleen Lynch (DL, Cork North Central) said the problems in the Defence Forces, including ageing personnel, layers of red tape and a spending imbalance, did not arise overnight.
This Government was aware that the problem could not be solved overnight. Full implementation of its plans might taken 10 years and the pace of change would have to be managed.
