Sir, - Mr Michael Smith, TD, Minister for Defence, represented the Government at the Aga Khan Trophy and at the "parade of sail", climax of the Tall Ships' visit to Dublin. I wonder if, in the course of these two important international engagements, the Minister felt even a tinge of embarrassment (a) that in the RDS the Army No. 1 Band could muster only 26 instrumentalists and (b) that the Air Corps fly-past for the parade of sail consisted of just three propeller aircraft, Siai-Marchetti SF 260Ws. These are splendid basic trainers. Seven of the 10 purchased 22 years ago remain in service, but with a top speed of 175 kts at a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet, they were intended as an introduction to, and not as a substitute for, the Fouga CM 170 Magisters, whose withdrawal from service has left the Air Corps bereft of jet aircraft (other than the Gulfstream G4 for ministerial transport) without any decision to procure replacements.
This evidence of neglect by successive administrations, combined with the mismanagement responsible for a mounting bill for compensation in the hearing loss cases and the lack of urgency in providing equipment for the Naval Service and Army, following a prolonged ban on recruitment, makes one question assertions that the deafness controversy is responsible for lowering morale.
More likely, the number of loyal servicemen who have resorted to litigation reflects the frustration, in all three arms of the Permament Defence Force, born of having to cope incessantly with staff shortages and ageing and often obsolete equipment. The Minister is right to go for a White Paper on Defence that will finally define a defence policy for this country. But surely that should have come before Price Waterhouse were commissioned to produce reviews of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. - Yours, etc., John MacGinty,
Glenageary, Co Dublin.