The Government decision to close five Army barracks without consultation with soldiers' representatives was criticised yesterday at an officers' conference.
The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers heard the decision to close the barracks over the summer had imposed hardships and the Army had been "totally unprepared" for the move. The RACO annual delegate conference passed a motion condemning the "manner and method of barracks closures adopted by the Minister for Defence".
In reply the Minister, Mr Smith, told the conference that barracks closures were necessary. The closures, he said, freed soldiers for operational duties and were necessary "to remove the burden imposed by manning and maintaining unnecessary installations".
The RACO president, Comdt Bryan Wallace, asked Mr Smith to give a commitment that there would be consultation about further closures.
Comdt Wallace said the association was appreciative of the additional funding supplied by Government for soldiers affected, but added, "our difficulty with the recent closures was with the time-scale not the decision".
He went on: "The Defence Forces were totally unprepared when you announced your decision at the end of June to have effect by the end of September. "As a result of your decision Defence Forces personnel have moved into substandard accommodation."
In his address, Mr Smith said the hearing compensation issue caused "untold damage" to the image of the Defence Forces. He said: "It takes decades to build a solid reputation which earns the respect of all the people. It is vitally important when, because of issues outside the control of the majority and when confidences are shaken, that the leadership qualities and the capacity to be positive and determined emerge as never before."
The Minister also reiterated the Government position on support for Irish involvement in some form of European defence structure, particularly the NATO-led Partnership for Peace.
He said: "Partnership for Peace does not intrude on our neutrality nor does it imply we will become members of the NATO military alliance.
"The Government has been briefed on the issue with particular reference to the fact that Partnership for Peace has developed since 1994 but more particularly over the last year into a major framework for co-operation, training and preparation for UN-mandated peacekeeping, humanitarian tasks and crisis management." Comdt Wallace also expressed RACO's support for Ireland's participation in a European defence structure, particularly Partnership for Peace. He said: "Failure to join could lead to our inability to prove our inter-operability and might exclude us from future operations."