The General Secretary of PDFORRA has said it cannot comply with the insistence of the Department of Defence that it should not campaign on pay issues.
Gerry Rooney was speaking at the group's annual conference in Tullow, Co Carlow.
However, the Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea, said that PDFORRA must operate within agreed procedures, which forbid the association with trade unions or other bodies.
PDFORRA has been ordered by the department to break their links with the 24/7 Frontline Service Alliance of public servants, which has been set up to fight Government cutbacks.
Separately, the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association has also proposed that the murder of a member of the Defence Forces should carry a minimum jail term of 40 years.
PDFORRA said all troops should get the same protection under the law as gardaí and prison officers.
The Criminal Justice Act of 1990 provides for mandatory 40-year sentences for the murder of a garda, a prison officer or a member of the Defence Forces operating in Portlaoise Prison or carrying out prisoner escort duties.
But PDFORRA wants the law to cover all soldiers who are assisting gardaí in their work.
Mr Rooney said the threat from political splinter groups and well-armed criminals is very real and as members of the Defence Forces can be targets they must have the same legal protection.
