A WHITE Paper on defence policy would be published within a year of Fianna Fail taking office, the party's defence spokesman said. Mr Michael Smith, opening a debate in private members' time, said the lack of any strategic plan by the Government had led to "unbelievable confusion and frustration" in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.

He called on the Government to state what its ultimate plan was for the three services.

Fianna Fail, he said, would engage in "real and meaningful consultation" with the professionals in the three services with a view to formulating a policy. Changes in the services must take account of the wider State and community interests.

Mr Smith moved a motion which condemned the Minister for Defence "for his failure to articulate a coherent policy" on a variety of issues: the reduction in numbers, having regard to security requirements in the Border areas, United Nations and elsewhere; the need to strengthen the Air Corps and Naval Service for fishery protection and drug interdiction; the concerns expressed by Army wives in regard to conditions for soldiers in the Border area; "failure to be honest" about barrack closures; confusion over death benefits, the FCA and the early retirement schemes.

The Minister of State for Defence, Mr Jim Higgins, moved an amendment which commended the substantial progress achieved to date in implementing a balanced programme of reform in the Defence Forces.

The programme of reform which the Government was implementing was the most far-reaching and widest-ranging since the foundation of the forces. "Clearly this is a most complex process and one which cuts across every area of military life. It does not take a lot of insight to appreciate that in any organisation there will be a certain resistance to change. Voices will, be raised in protest when certain interests are perceived as being threatened."

The high age profile of the Permanent Defence Forces was a serious problem and the Government had approved a number of policy initiatives to address it. Chief among these was the early retirement scheme. The Government was also committed to the recruitment of 1,000 new entrants over the three-year life of its plan for the forces.

"There may be hard decisions to make down the road, but the Government is confident that it will be possible to reach an accommodation with the representative associations on a wide range of issues."

Debate on the motion continues this evening.