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 studies and analyses the interactions of the parties involved in this remarkable evolution in such a short period of time. In addition to the Government, the military authorities and Defence Forces' personnel, the study finds the printed media and a pressure group composed of military wives to be 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. Critically, many of these factors arise from poor management of manpower, the Defence Forces most important resource.

ADA 256885 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)