Officers want a 'full-time Minister for Defence', says representative body

The association is also expected to highlight growing concerns about overseas deployment — not just because of the dangers Irish troops are currently facing on UN duty in South Lebanon as the war between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. File photo: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

The majority of units in the Defence Forces are severely short of officers leading to a lack of leadership that significantly increases risk, stress and is damaging to morale, according to the representative body for officers. 

This is ultimately driving highly experienced personnel to quit the military, and the issue is expected to dominate the association's annual conference when it gets underway on Wednesday in Tullow, Co Carlow.