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

I thank our guests for their time and expertise. We often hear "crisis", "emergency" and other really drastic words being thrown about but if there is anything that will focus the minds of the public on the Defence Forces at the minute, it is the RACO exit survey. It is absolutely stark. One of the contributors to that survey, under the theme of further roles and impact, to my mind, hit the nail on the head and put it very well when he or she stated that: "The organisation went through a number of change processes without knowing what it wanted to be at the end." That is key when we look back at the 2012 reorganisation that took place and the disastrous impact it has had since.

In that same survey, we also need to read a line that caught my eye: "While I have been frank and honest in my responses, I would like to highlight that I am very proud [to have served] in the DF [Defence Forces]". We need to be mindful that people are leaving the Defence Forces not so much by choice but due to a series of events forcing them into taking that decision. Some of these events are within their control but the majority are not. We need to look at the issue of pay and retention in a specific manner. The loyalty given by members of the Defence Forces has to be respected through ensuring that there is recognition of the roles they undertake and appropriate remuneration for them. They work in roles that nobody else outside of the Defence Forces does and that is what makes them unique. Uniqueness was spoken of earlier. We need to home in on the issue of appropriate remuneration for roles carried out by members of the Defence Forces.

I also note from the opening submission that: "The Chief of Defence should be made...Accounting Officer for a significant operational share". I could not agree more with that statement. It is absolutely key and is something that Government could do very quickly. The impact a decision like that would have, particularly around operations, capital expenditure and infrastructure, would be felt in the short term as opposed to long term.

We touched on the working time directive. I have a very specific question. Engagement with the Minister and Department was spoken of. How often have members of RACO met with the Minister for Defence and how often do they engage with the Department of Defence?

To move on to the high-level plan, in the opinion of the RACO representatives, who is responsible for the failure of that plan to deliver? We know that 24% of personnel and 35% of commissioned officers have less than five years' experience. We know that is not sustainable and is not best practice. It opens the door to major health and safety concerns and creates layers of gaps in experience in the Defence Forces. The phrases "managed decline" and being "set up to fail" were mentioned in the opening statement. An ex-officer said to me quite recently that, in his opinion, he saw a planned obsolescence of the Defence Forces and that what we are seeing now is not being done in error, or by misjudgement, but deliberately.

I would like the witnesses' opinions on that.

Reference was made to primary radar. I brought this up with the Minister last year and pointed out my serious concern that while the 2015 White Paper recognises that radar surveillance is a priority, there has never been any money put aside for it, including under the national development plan. What is the potential impact of not giving funding on an urgent basis to put that equipment in place?

There was mention of the conciliation and arbitration scheme. Is that scheme working for RACO members and, if not, what changes to it would the witnesses like to see? What fundamental improvements can be put in place to make the scheme more effective?

When we come through this point in time and the crisis for the Defence Forces is over, what are RACO's priorities to ensure they emerge stronger and fit for purpose? The witnesses mentioned their modelling. There needs to be a balance struck between the recruitment and retention crises. Where would the witnesses like to see the Government focusing and what do they see as the key areas of concern?