Outside intervention is now needed to resolve a deepening morale crisis in the Naval Service, according to defence forces union PDFORRA.
Naval Service staff and their families are under high levels of stress and have lost all confidence in their superiors to rectify a dispute over the amount of time being spent at sea, research commissioned by the union has found.
The problems over long-term sea patrols led official defence forces representatives earlier this year to call in independent experts to assess the gravity of the situation.
The study commissioned by PDFORRA involved a sample of 212 service personnel and 137 spouses. It centred on claims that a Government White Paper outlining its policy on the maximum length of offshore duty was being ignored at senior level in the Naval Service.
The report, which has been presented to both the Minister for Justice and the Defence Forces, found low levels of morale among the group leading to concerns over and safety.
PDFORRA have demanded a meeting with Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea to discuss the report's findings. A spokesman for the Minister said a decision had yet to be taken on whether to respond to the study.
Gerry Rooney, General Secretary of PDFORRA said: "We have listened to anecdotal evidence of these problems for some time - and we raised our concerns with management at all levels - with little or no success.
"Sailors were supposed to spend two years at sea and two years at base, and this is being ignored as some sailors are spending up to 100 extra days at sea doing relief, when they should be on shore.
"Coupled with this, personnel are sometimes spending two full days on overnight duty at base when on their 'week ashore' from long-term sea patrols."
PA