THE Minister for Defence was accused of applying "double standards" by the general secretary of PDFORRA, the defence force representative association, last night.
Speaking at a meeting in Cork, the PDFORRA general secretary, Mr John Lucey, said that the three soldiers who had been decorated for distinguished service by the Minister, Mr Barrett, last week would "not fit in" to the Government's new plan. The sergeant decorated was over 45 years old, and his two colleagues, both corporals, were in their 30s, Mr Lucey said.
The meeting, attended by about 400 soldiers from Cork, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Limerick, Clonmel and Tralee and Naval Service personnel, condemned the introduction of a restructuring plan. It also condemned the introduction of a voluntary early retirement package "without proper consultation".
Mr Lucey described the mood as "very angry and apprehensive". The proposals for manpower policy caused most concern, he said.
He said that members of the Army currently serving with UNIFIL in the Lebanon were not regarded as too old to risk their lives in aiding the injured women and children, but many were too old in the eyes of the Government. The proposed manpower policy was "contradictory, inconsistent and contrary to the principle of equality," he said.