Irish Defence Forces personnel are being "coerced" into serving on overseas missions by their superiors while troops who have volunteered to serve are being overlooked, the representative association for Army, Air Corps and Naval Service personnel has claimed.
The coercion is said to have arisen because there is a shortage of skilled troops to undertake specialised tasks overseas, such as driving armoured personnel carriers.
PDFORRA's vice-president, Mr Andy Mackin, said at the opening last night of the association's annual conference in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, that the move was a new departure for Ireland's participation in international UN missions, away from the "volunteers first" principle which applied until about five years ago.
Mr Mackin said there were currently "dozens of cases" of soldiers who had not volunteered for tours of duty overseas being coerced into going. It was a particular problem in relation to participation in the UN's peacekeeping mission in Liberia.
In many cases serving personnel had undergone intensive 14-week driving courses in preparation for a tour of duty. They had then immediately travelled to their destination for six months. On their return they were requested to travel again almost immediately.
PDFORRA believes the practice is putting unnecessary pressure on personnel, particularly when other soldiers have volunteered for the same mission but have not been selected.
"We would feel that individuals' career prospects are being dangled in front of their faces and are being played off their family lives. They would feel that if they don't agree to travel their promotional prospects would be damaged," Mr Mackin said. "Volunteerism is a principle which must be preserved, as it makes a positive statement about Ireland's approach to UN service.
"Pressuring a soldier to serve overseas at a time which creates difficulties for the individual and family is not the best way forward and indeed has inherent risks in regard to morale and overall performance of duty."
PDFORRA now wants the authorities to focus on only sending overseas those who volunteer.