By Sean O’Riordan, Defence Correspondent

A group organising a major march on the Dáil to highlight poor pay and conditions in the Defence Forces is about to launch a lobbying campaign aimed at local and national public representatives.

The organisers of the ‘Respect & Loyalty’ march, due to take place on September 19, are asking partners of Defence Forces members and ex-servicemen/women to start the lobbying campaign on August 20.

Retired regimental sergeant major Noel O’Callaghan, who is at the forefront of the campaign, said it is hoped thousands of people will email councillors, TDs, and senators highlighting the plight faced by members of the Defence Forces, who are the poorest paid public servants.

Mr O’Callaghan said the format for the march on Leinster House has now been finalised.

It’s hoped thousands of people will take part in the march, which will form at the military monument in Merrion Square, Dublin, at 11.45am.

The march will be conducted with military precision and will be stewarded by former soldiers in an effort to ensure minimum disruption in the capital.

A number of speakers, including Mr O’Callaghan, will address the gathering at the monument which will be followed by a reading of the Proclamation, a wreath-laying ceremony, the playing of the national anthem, and a minute’s silence.

The parade will then march towards Kildare Street and Leinster House.

It will be addressed outside the Dáil by Declan Power, a retired army officer and security consultant.

Seven members of the parade will then step forward and hand submissions to each of the party leaders in the Dáil.

It is expected that will occur around 1pm.

The march has the full support of the Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces (WPDF) and will be attended by a number of retired personnel, some of whom are flying in for the day from Britain and Spain.

Mr O’Callaghan said many people had suffered after the Celtic Tiger crash, most of all members of the Defence Forces and nurses.

He said the Defence Forces were becoming “dysfunctional” because of the continued exodus of highly-trained personnel who are getting better pay and conditions in the private sector.

It is crisis management all the time.

“There is a lack of leadership and supervision,” said Mr O’Callaghan.

Even accelerated recruitment, he added, is failing to keep pace with the numbers leaving.