New members of the Defence Forces are suffering "withdrawal symptoms" for their mobile phones, miss being home and struggle with military punctuality.

There is "inappropriate" use of training punishments in some parts of the Defence Forces, but morale generally is "very high", according to a top-level supervisory body.

MILITARY representatives yesterday expressed concern at the low number of formal complaints of bullying and harassment given the apparent scale of the problem within the Defence Forces.

POTENTIAL recruits to the Defence Forces should not be awarded extra marks if they conduct interviews in Irish, says a report.

A DEFENCE Force ombudsman is to be appointed to deal with bullying and harassment in the military.