Sir, - As a former officer in the Defence Forces with 18 years' service, I am moved to write in support of Kevin Myers's criticism of plans to implement further cuts in the already undermanned Defence Force (An Irishman's Diary, February 11th).
Having listened to the Minister, Mr Smyth, when asked about senior officer resignations, suggest that they would be an attempt to subvert the democratic process (The Week In Politics, RTE) I must register my disgust at his arrogance.
Mr Smyth has undermined Defence Forces morale from his first day in office. The spin-doctoring and leaking of stories about the deafness claims (the result of negligence by his Department rather than the military); the continued refusal to release the findings of the Price Waterhouse review of the Air Corps and Naval Service; and his cherry-picking of that company's review of the army have resulted in the position we now face. The Minister has squandered the confidence and trust of the personnel who loyally serve the Government of this country.
I sincerely hope that Lt-Gen. Stapleton does not feel it necessary to resign. As an honourable military man, that is the only option left open to him should the Minister's profligacy continue. When last I looked, Price Waterhouse's primary function was as an accountancy business. The Army, Naval Service and Air Corps should at least be consulted before their effectiveness is negated by the short-sighted pursuit of savings for the Exchequer. The least that is now required is to shelve the White Paper and include military personnel in the decision-making and planning of whatever changes are deemed necessary. - Yours, etc., Tim O'Connell
(Capt., retired), Moyville, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.