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

The men and women who are defending human rights throughout the world, whether it is in the Mediterranean, Mali or the Golan Heights, are being denied their human rights by the Government due to the level of inappropriate pay for the amount of hours they work, the lack of access to proper trade union organisation and a range of other complaints which have been brought before the Minister of State to date. There is a high level of staff turnover.

Low pay is being addressed only because most members of the Defence Forces are in receipt of family income supplement, FIS. A significant number rely on the payment in order to pay hectic rents and for the extra travel they have to engage in because of relocation following the closure of barracks. The Government has failed entirely to deal with the issue.

Women are being targeted because only 6% of Defence Forces' members are women. The Minister of State has not indicated how he can attract women into such low paid and bad conditions where there is a disregard for their rights.

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