More than 100 members of PDforra, the association representing soldiers, sailors and aircrew have gathered in Tullow, Co Carlow for their annual conference and to elect a new president.
The conference opened this afternoon with speeches from the three candidates seeking election as PDforra's next president. Outgoing president William Webb is seeking re-election while the other two candidates are Michael McKenzie from the Kilkenny district and Declan Sheridan from St Bricin's district.
Members have now voted but the election result will not be announced until Thursday.
The conference is expected to be dominated by the impact of Government cutbacks on members. It will hear that the income of some lower paid soldiers has fallen by up to €2,500 because of various Government levies and cutbacks.
It will also hear criticism of the association's forced withdrawal from the 24/7 Front Line Service Alliance. Last month it emerged that the Department of Defence had told PDforra that it must break contact with the alliance of frontline public sector workers such as gardaí, nurses and prison officers. The alliance is protesting against cuts in allowances and payments proposed in the McCarthy report.
The conference will be addressed by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea tomorrow, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen Dermot Earley and Pdforra general secretary Gerry Rooney.
