Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I welcome any increase in pay restoration to members of the Defence Forces, there were other cuts to their pay as well as increased taxes, which every public servant bore. The Defence Forces suffered cuts to technician pay, duty pay and various allowances, and the cumulative effect was that their weekly wages were down substantially. One of the major difficulties is that those allowances are not being restored properly.

RACO's comments highlight the fact the Defence Forces cannot go on strike, and while I would not condone their going on strike, that is not what the representative associations are asking for. It is important, however, that we do not take advantage of that fact. While other sectors can use the threat of strike or embark on industrial action, which is well within their rights, the Defence Forces cannot. We cannot use that against them or take advantage of that. The fear in what is happening here is the fact that side deals were done with other sectors and the Defence Forces appear to have been left behind. Better representation for the Defence Forces is required in public sector pay talks.

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