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The Defence Forces are planning to recruit 1,450 personnel in the next two years, and keen to sign-up more women and people from ethnic minorities.

The Government’s plan to double the number of women in the Defence Forces will fail unless its stops discriminating against them.

Soldiers, sailors, and airmen, are seeking the ability to take industrial action, up to and including strikes.

The Government has spent over €600,000 securing and running empty army barracks which were closed to help make savings in the Defence Forces.

The new plastic card driving licence will be introduced here early in the new year, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed yesterday.

A newly-appointed military judge faces a backlog of 21 cases when he begins his role in September.

With reference to Edward Horgan (Letters, Mar 13) in relation to the presence of possibly eight members of the Defence Forces being stationed in Afghanistan, it should be pointed it that it is no coincidence that the number is in single figures.

It cost in excess of €3m to run the Reserve Defence Force last year, at a time when four more barracks are being closed to save €5m.

The Irish Army will take delivery next week of the final two Armoured Personnel Carriers of the 25 purchased this year, it was confirmed today.

NEARLY 100 Defence Forces personnel are to be deployed at a festival to remember one of the largest shows of military strength in Ireland - by the British.