Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests this morning. As always, it is a pleasure to hear from PDFORRA. I also want to extend my sympathy to Mr. Bright and his family for their loss. I offer my genuine condolences. I was very sorry to hear that.

In relation to both serving members of the Defence Forces and veterans, is PDFORRA experiencing what my constituency team and I are experiencing in terms of the impact of the housing crisis on members? It is not an exaggeration to say that in recent months, we have been inundated with queries and requests for help and guidance from serving members and veterans who are living in a nightmarish situation. The end of the moratorium on evictions seems to have coincided with increase-in-rent notices coming in the door. What we see to a greater extent is that serving members are taking on extra employment to a higher degree than would have been the case beforehand. This is not to supplement luxuries but to simply make the rent payments.

Whether it is to do with red tape or anomalies, I also have noticed an issue with serving members and their wives, husbands and partners. If the latter's employer has been in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme payment, it is now having an impact on their ability to draw down a mortgage. There were four such cases last week alone. This is something which if witnesses are not aware of, I would like to speak to them about outside of this setting. It is an issue which is there. There is also the issue of additional notices to quit, which have been coming in over recent months, the contraction of the rental market and its impact on serving members and veterans.

I agree with the statement made earlier that €29,000 before tax is not a bad starting-off wage. The question which is key and must be asked is whether it is reflective of that nature of the role. That is the key question which must be asked when one is looking at entry-level wages of the Defence Forces. We have seen and heard the various advertisements that have been placed, in print, broadcast and online forms, to encourage the recruitment drive. In the witnesses’ professional experience and as representatives of PDFORRA, what more must happen to attract recruits into a career in the Defence Forces? What more must we do to make this an attractive career for more people?

I want to touch briefly on the issues of contract and the 21-year service date, and the catastrophic effect that has in some areas on morale. I understand that cliff edge is approaching. If July 2021 is the date the Minister has set out, do witnesses think the timeframe is sufficient to calm current members' fears? I will give an example of why it is an issue. Yesterday, I spoke to a retired member of the Defence Forces. He was 43 years of age. That is hardly an age one would consider to be retired at, but he was retired and he was 43 years of age.

Last week, the Minister stated at this committee that some areas of the defence budget, which will not be spent, will be ring-fenced for the wider defence family. From PDFORRA’s perspective, what do witnesses think would be the best use of those funds? What would deliver most for their 6,500 members?

I thank Mr. Quigley for bringing up the medical assistance programme. I could not help but notice the display he has behind his head. I had a quick look at his website to see what kind of injuries this scheme is used for. What I saw were predominantly knee and hip injuries. Does Mr. Quigley have figures as to the extent to which the job has an impact on those injuries? Were they caused by playing five-a-side football or were they as a result of the role members perform? Last week, members heard the provision in the Estimate for the Defence Forces for litigation is going to increase. It will remain the same for medical and there will be no material increase in compensation. Does PDFORRA agree with a statement that was made to me that the Department now seems determined to defend any and all claims to the fullest extent?