The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, has outlined a development plan for the local defence force, the FCA, which, he said will result in stronger numbers and better equipment. He said that there is now widespread consensus that the force needs radical change.
Earlier today the Minister and the Chief of Staff both called on a District Judge to withdraw comments he made about the performance of Irish soldiers in the Lebanon. Judge Desmond Windle was quoted during the hearing of a case as saying that Irish peacekeeping soliders could only sit in their tents while the Israelis and Lebanese shoot at one another over their heads. He said that the fact that they had no power to stop the fighting made their presence there irrelevant.
In Thurles this afternoon, Minister Michael Smith repeated his demand for the Judge to withdraw the comments. He said that because of the very serious nature of the work and the risks which soldiers take to restore peace, people who are sheltered at home should at least take time to understand what is happening. Mr Smith said that the people of Ireland, and himself, were extremely proud of Irish peacekeeping troops.
Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Colm Mangan, said that he was disappointed for the men in the Lebanon and the families of soldiers who have died. He said the remarks came from a certain ignorance of the Lebanese situation.
