Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I have to reject the idea that what the Minister of State has proposed will work. A second recruitment campaign took place this year and, as other Deputies have pointed out, there is an exodus from the Defence Forces, as well as significant staff turnover.

I refer to conditions. The Public Sector Pay Commission reported that there was a reduction in expressions of interest in the Defence Forces, from 10,000 in 2012 to 5,000 last year. That must be very worrying for the Minister of State, as the man in charge.

I and others, including many sailors and soldiers, would acknowledge that this is due to the poor pay and conditions. Those in the Army have a maximum career of 21 years. The working time directive does not apply to them. Many work over 70 hours a week for no extra remuneration as they do not receive overtime. In other words, they are not appropriately paid for the number of hours they work.

They are excluded from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and have no right to strike. When gardaí received remuneration in respect of rent because they refused to endorse the Lansdowne Road agreement, that decision was applied to prison officers and firefighters but not members of the Defence Forces. We congratulate them for the wonderful job they do, but they are not being given their rights.

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