The organisers of an event calling for respect and loyalty for members of the Defence Forces have said it was a parade and not a protest.
Shelly Cotter, of Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces, told families and veterans gathered at the National Memorial at Merrion Square that Irish Defence Forces were renowned worldwide for their peacekeeping, but are ignored at home.
She said morale among the Defence Forces was non-existent and their mental health was a worry.
Ms Cotter said respect had to be earned and she claimed the Defence Forces had no respect for the Minister for Defence because of their treatment.
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell said he had had concerns last night about the turnout but he should have remembered the Defence Forces always turn out.
Senator Craughwell, who served in the Defence Forces and the British Army, said retention was at an all-time low because of poor pay and conditions.
He said the Defence Forces were being wound down to something no one would want to part of.
The senator also said no one joined the Defence Forces to become wealthy, but to serve their country.
Ex-Regimental Sergeant Major Noel O'Callaghan said the people gathered in Merrion Square were representing those who could parade for everyone but themselves.
He said a parade of soldiers preparing to depart for the UNDOF mission to Syria, which is also happening today, is of equal importance and, like the Merrion Square event, an honourable parade.
Wreathes have been laid at the war memorial at Merrion Square for deceased members of the Defence Forces and their families.
Elsewhere, Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said that there was an 8% turnover rate of personnel in the Defence Forces and acknowledged that this rate was "too high".
Fianna Fáil Dara Calleary highlighted issues around Defence Forces pay and staff turnover in the Dáil today.
Mr Calleary said the country was proud of its Defence Forces and the way Irish soldiers, naval forces and Air Corps are respected across the world.
He said that "compliments and commendations do not put meals on tables".
Ms Doherty said the Public Sector Pay Commission has been tasked to look at the pay conditions of members of the Defence Forces and the reasons for people leaving.
She said that post-2013 recruits were benefitting from pay increases and the restoration of pre-FEMPI levels of pay.
Ms Doherty also said that pay restoration was scheduled.
Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh also raised the plight of members of the Defence Forces during Leaders’ Questions.
He said the Government had taken full advantage to the fact that there was loyalty among members of the Defence Forces, but he said the bond between those members and the State was now broken.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said the Government was aware of low morale in the Defence Forces, which is expected to lose another 700 members this year as people leave for the private sector.
In response, Ms Doherty said the Defence Forces were the bedrock that underpin the safety and security of the nation.
She said this was why the Government had taken actions to improve pay under restorations which are part of the Landsdowne Road Agreement.
She said additional recruitment is under way to bring back up numbers that have dropped by 470.
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Additional reporting: Conor McMorrow, Justin McCarthy
