Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is no point in lauding the record recruitment figures when the problem is that we are not retaining people. As I said in respect of an earlier question, between 50 and 60 personnel are leaving every month. In the past three years, one out of ten officers at lieutenant, captain or commandant grade left the Defence Forces. This is incredible. One of the key reasons for this is the appalling rates of pay for our Defence Forces personnel. New entrants start on just over €21,000. A total of 75% of Defence Forces personnel believe their pay is unfair. There is a examples of people living on eggs and beans, members who cannot get mortgages because their contracts are so poor, members having to live with their parents because they cannot afford rent and men and women separated from their partners for weeks and months with not even the prospect of overtime to make the hardship and loneliness worthwhile. People on international excursions are getting payment rates of €250 extra despite all the extra hardship they face, not to mention issues like Lariam. We need seriously to address the conditions of members of Defence Forces. If not, the Government can have any plan for retention it likes, but it will not be achieved.

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