FG criticises Smith's handling of naval review

Marine Correspondent A WAR of words has broken out between the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and Fine Gael's defence spokeswoman, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, over his handling of the Naval Service review.

Referring to the Minister's comments at the Naval Base at Haulbowline, Co Cork this week Ms Fitzgerald said it raised "serious questions about his overall judgment" and his "grasp of the day-to-day realities for those managing and working in the service".

Announcing 70 extra recruits at a Naval cadet commissioning ceremony on Thursday, the Minister had chastised those within the service who had been responsible for "scaremongering" in relation to the Price Waterhouse review of the Naval Service and Air Corps. He had also denied there was a crisis regarding personnel.

"It is ominous that Minister Smith is persisting with the fiction that there is no crisis, particularly as he has appointed himself to the chair of the implementation committee carrying out the review," Ms Fitzgerald said in a statement.

She also urged the Minister to commit the necessary funding for a proper media campaign to support the recruitment drive, as proposed by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO). Last night Mr Smith said it was clear from Ms Fitzgerald's statements that she had not only a "outdated, happy-go-lucky approach", but that she always "wanted to be on the side of the angels".

"Naturally, Deputy Fitzgerald wants to distance herself from Fine Gael's strategy when in Government, which was to ignore the realities and hope that a modern, flexible, mobile, efficient force will emerge without some pain or significant change."

"Fine Gael and Labour in government knew that Army barracks should be closed and the properties disposed of to generate new financial resources, but they balked; they had not the courage to do it." This Government had pursued a "vigorous policy on all fronts, introducing continuous recruitment for the first time, improving accommodation, pay and purchasing new equipment."