The elite Army Ranger wing are not allowed to use flashing blue lights or sirens, even though they would likely be the first unit dispatched to deal with a serious threat to State security.

Military management has absolutely nothing to fear from rank and file Defence Forces personnel having an affiliation with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

PDForra has reacted angrily after some of its Naval Service delegates were refused permission by military management to attend the association's annual delegate conference.

The Government is sending Ireland's elite troops to "one of the most dangerous places in the world" but is refusing to pay them increased allowances agreed by independent arbitration in 2010.

The disparity in pay and conditions between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces involved in protecting visiting VIPs was again highlighted yesterday.

Proposed increases in allowances for members of the Defence Forces could make the retention and recruitment crisis worse, not better, it has been warned.

130 members of the Defence Forces are, for the second time in a year, unable to return home to their families tomorrow.

Defence Forces veterans are set to hold a national march in Cork on May Day to highlight poor pay and conditions endured by serving members of the military.

The naval service is facing a personnel crisis, having failed to secure sufficient numbers for its latest recruitment class.

A European ruling has criticised the Government for excluding soldiers, sailors, and aircrew from full engagement in national pay talks, potentially opening the way for further court action.

The organisation representing enlisted members of the Defence Forces says it will support the Air Corps whistleblower who is facing possible dismissal at a Medical Board hearing today.

The head of a military representative association has described as “disgraceful” the failure to pay many young recruits to the Defence Forces for several weeks their pay and allowances.

The Government has been accused of acting ‘Scrooge’ by not paying hard-pressed Naval Service personnel and agreed increased allowance before Christmas.

Young members of the Defence Forces are disillusioned and leaving the Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps in droves because they cannot afford to live on their wages.

The organisation which represents rank and file members of the Defence Forces is refusing to sign up to the Lansdowne Agreement on public service pay until the Government reverses its decision to cut the wages of new entrants to the military by 10%.

The Dáil has been urged to support calls for gardaí to be allowed to strike for better pay, after claims some officers are living in “poverty” and need social welfare supports just to survive.

The organisation which represents rank-and-file members of the army, navy, and air corps has lodged a case for official union recognition in Europe and expects to have a positive decision on it within a year.

The organisation representing naval ratings has demanded a thorough examination of all the Naval Service’s older ships to ensure they are asbestos-free.

A High Court challenge aimed at seeking the removal of the person appointed as Ombudsman of the Defence Forces has been brought by the the Defence Forces representative organisation PDFORRA.

The association representing soldiers, sailors, and aircrew is “inundated” with phone calls from members concerned at the reduction in the number of brigades in the force.

Concern has been raised that proposed changes to army structures in Cork could impact on the Defence Forces’ ability to help during civil emergencies.

MILITARY representatives have expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of Navy vessels and the lack of funds to replace aging ships which have been forced to remain docked for repairs.

ANGRY army representatives have warned that soldiers will not be silenced on concerns over pay cuts and have told the Government to instead hit the wealthy with taxes.

The Defence Forces union today warned the Government its members would not be gagged over potential pay cuts.

ARMY representatives are calling for 40-year mandatory sentences for the murder of defence force members as concern mounts over the growth in armed political splinter groups and gangs.

TRADE unions and associations representing more than 100,000 public servants have reacted angrily to an alleged attempt to gag the military and prevent it from joining with an alliance fighting pay cuts proposed by the McCarthy report.

GOVERNMENT cutbacks may force the Naval Service to patrol with significantly reduced crews, limiting its operational efficiency.

PDFORRA has called on the Government to allow it to join the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

THE Defence Forces’ representative body, PDFORRA, has written to Defence Minister Willie O’Dea, urging him to move navy personnel away from a toxic slag heap in Cork harbour.

THE former soldier convicted of murdering three of his colleagues is expected to apply for release following his transfer to the North, which was announced yesterday.

The body that represents members of the Defence Forces has criticised the Government's decision to transfer a convicted murderer to prison in the North.

THERE is a danger that technically talented young people will not be attracted to the Defence Forces because of low pay rates for apprentices, a senior PDFORRA member has warned.

SOLDIERS’ representatives are being victimised and marginalised by the authorities in the Defence Forces, it was claimed last evening.

ELECTED representatives of Defence Forces personnel are being victimised by local commanders, it was claimed yesterday.

IRELAND’S role in the new EU Battlegroups could be put in doubt if a row over mandatory participation is not sorted out, it emerged yesterday.

RANK-AND-FILE members of the Defence Forces will go to the courts over the promotion system used by local commanders, a conference heard yesterday.

IRELAND will not be able to honour its commitments to serve in new EU battle groups because of a manpower shortage in the Defence Forces, it was claimed yesterday.

PLANNING is underway to replace three of the Naval Service's aging vessels it emerged yesterday following the announcement of a €19 million increase in the defence estimate.

The body representing members of the Irish Defence Forces has expressed concern at a move by Air Corps management to prevent a soldier giving evidence before a Rights Commissioner.

THE new Defence Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday said he had no plans to close any more Army barracks.

ARMY representatives fear soldiers who are not capable of taking part in military exercises will be booted out of the Defence Forces.

FEMALE representation in the Defence Forces will be badly hit unless employment contracts are overhauled, army representatives said yesterday.

The body representing Irish soldiers has expressed annoyance at requests that its members participate in a local festival in Co Kilkenny this week.