Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is it not the case that as a result of the consistent neglect of the Defence Forces by this Government and its predecessor, things have reached the stage where minuscule pay increases and apparent improvements in working conditions will not be sufficient? The Minister of State and I have been doing this dance for quite some time, so we know that things are getting worse. Since I took up my position as Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on defence, I have been raising directly with the Minister of State issues like pay and conditions, the lack of a retention policy to bring an end to the mass exodus of members, the low levels of morale and the general crisis in our Defence Forces. I commend PDFORRA on its work in consistently highlighting to the Minister of State and every Member of this House the severe difficulties being faced by its members who are unable to pay their bills or put a roof over their heads. Increasing numbers of Defence Forces personnel are availing of family income supplement. There are huge problems. Many members of the Defence Forces are so disillusioned that they are looking to buy their way out. They do not want to wait until the end of their full terms. I accept that there has always been a certain level of turnover, but the number of people leaving the Defence Forces at present is unprecedented. The recruitment campaign is not plugging the gap because people are leaving at such a fast rate.

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