The Advent of Representative Associations in the Irish Defence Forces

Abstract : This study seeks to identify the factors that underlie the establishment of representative associations in the Irish Defence Forces. The thesis establishes the nature and history of military representation. It further finds that the Irish Defence Forces were almost totally unaware of and had no policy on military representation prior to 1988. By 1991, representative associations were legally established in the Irish Defence Forces. The greater part of the thesis analyzes the interactions of the parties involved in this remarkable evolution that occurred in such a short period of time. In addition to the Government, the military authorities, and Defence Forces personnel, the study finds that the printed media and a pressure group composed of military wives were significant players in the process. The study concludes that a number of intertwined factors led to the establishment of representative associations in the Irish Defence Forces. Many of these factors arose from poor manpower management.