The Minister of State for Defence has been accused of being “in a bunker of denial” when it comes to the hardships endured by members of the Defence Forces.

The former head social worker for the Defence Forces has said he was ignored repeatedly when he warned Department of Defence officials about increasing poverty levels being endured by serving military personnel and their families.

The Government has been accused of running down the Defence Forces to such an extent that if there was a major security crisis, the country has been left “woefully unprepared, dramatically undefended, and shamefully exposed.”

Retired Lieut Col Dan Harvey said the Defence Forces is "broken" and "in crisis" with "morale at an all-time low," because they are "overlooked and undervalued, overworked, underpaid, over-stretched and undermanned."

The organisers of a parade are hoping thousands of people will join it in Cork to highlight the poor pay and conditions being endured by members of the Defence Forces.