Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Quite a number of Defence Forces personnel were allocated to work, effectively for free. What was the cost to the Army of the Defence Forces personnel working in this way? There are barracks in the area and other public representatives and I received many complaints about how badly Defence Forces personnel were treated. They were bivouacked in the trees around Farmleigh and the weather was terrible. These personnel were not treated with the dignity they deserved. I am not saying the OPW is responsible but we are only looking at part of the cost of this. Some people, including those in the Defence Forces and the Garda, gave much service to the event. What would it have cost for the services provided by the Defence Forces if it was categorised in the same way as the costs of the private security firms listed? Was somebody from a private security firm on €100 per day or a minimum or living wage? Our soldiers were not treated very well, although this was not the direct responsibility of the OPW. At events like this, where Defence Forces personnel are used, they should be treated with dignity and get at least the same consideration as others. Is there a daily rate for what the private security personnel received?