New legislation ‘may impose gagging orders on Defence Forces members’

Euromil, the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions, which represents 38 military associations in 23 European countries, has joined Irish military representative bodies, Raco and PDForra, in criticising the bill. Picture. Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

Groups representing military personnel have claimed new legislation will impose “gagging orders” on members of the Defence Forces, preventing them from openly criticising government policy.

The Oireachtas foreign affairs and defence committee has heard from military representative bodies on the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023, with concerns raised that members of the Defence Forces will be precluded from publicly questioning or commenting on government policy.