Disbanding battalions could cost North €88m a year

BRITISH government plans to disband three Northern Ireland-based battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) in a major shake up of security could cost the North’s economy €88 million (£60m) every year, it was claimed.

Democratic Unionist Assembly member Arlene Foster said while there had been a focus on the implications of the move for the safety and security of communities, it was also becoming clear there would be a high human cost.

“A significant number of the soldiers within the RIR are drawn from areas in the west of the province where there are already few enough job opportunities,” the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said.

“Indeed within the past months, many of these same areas have been hit with job losses within the manufacturing sector.

“Businesses are already feeling the knock-on effect of previous job losses and this announcement has only served to heighten fears of a further knock-on effect.

“It is suggested that with the disbandment of the RIR Home Battalions, there will be a loss of some £20m (€29m) per battalion to the economy each year.

“Looking at the economic implications of this decision, it is obvious that the idea is ill-conceived and has certainly been made without giving any consideration to the widespread economic impact,” she said.

Three thousand soldiers will be affected by the decision to axe the battalions by 2007 if the British government is able to implement radical demilitarisation moves envisaged in the wake of last month’s IRA declaration that it is ending its armed campaign.

Despite RIR Colonel Mark Campbell’s insistence that the regiment was not being thrown to the political wolves, unionists have reacted furiously to the plans.

Last week, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was warned by the DUP that its approach to talks to revive devolution in Northern Ireland would be determined by how he treated the soldiers.

Ms Foster said yesterday it was important to remember that not only were soldiers losing their jobs, but 2,000 civilian jobs were also disappearing.

“With this in mind, surely the government must set about planning to attract replacement jobs for the individuals affected,” she said.

“It is unacceptable for the government to rush some 2,000 people on to the job market all at once and have no plans in place to deal with this situation.”