Fine Gael and Labour are tabling a joint motion in the Dail next week condemning the handling by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, of the dispute over the proposed changes to the Defence Forces in his draft White Paper.
The White Paper proposals were considerably redrawn after what were described yesterday as "difficult" negotiations between military management and the Government on Wednesday and Thursday.
In a statement yesterday, the Fine Gael spokeswoman on defence, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, said: "What should have been an opportunity to outline the future role of the Defence Forces has been turned by this Minister into the undignified undermining of one of the institutions of this State. It will take some time to repair the damage that has been done by his appalling handling of this opportunity.
"It will also be a long time before the Defence Forces forgive and forget the high-handed approach of this Fianna Fail Minister."
The Progressive Democrats' chairman, Mr John Minehan, welcomed the agreement over the White Paper dispute. "It is unfortunate that the matter escalated," he said.
The Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieut Gen Dave Stapleton, has praised the Minister's intervention to help resolve the dispute.