The Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence is due to hear a military representative group outline its significant concerns about pending legislation.
The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) has branded parts of the Government's Defence Ammendment Bill as "unnecessarily draconian, repressive and restrictive."
The critique is contained in an opening statement to the committee, which has been seen by RTÉ News.
RACO is particularly concerned with a provision which states that a representative association or its representatives: "... shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such policy".
RACO will express the view that: "... to impose such restrictions on Defence Forces representative associations or representatives of an association would have the effect of completely silencing and frustrating the ability of the associations to advocate for their members on matters that fall within the scope of representation."
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will also attend the meeting as the bill is due to give effect to the Government's decision to allow the military representative groups to associate with the ICTU for the first time.
Committee chair Charlie Flanagan said his members welcomed the opportunity to discuss the bill, noting the majority of what is proposed arises from recommendations contained from the Independent Review Group and the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces.
