Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State accept the pay is so low that one in five members rely on social welfare payments to cover food and living costs? Does he accept that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Defence Forces members qualifying for the family income supplement payments and that some Defence Forces members sleep in their cars because they cannot afford to get petrol to allow them to travel to and from work? Is he aware that last week, one mother told the public and the media how she chose food for her children over medication for her depression and that in another case, a child was heard to say, "It's okay, mammy, we will get dinner when daddy gets paid"? Does the Minister of State understand that there is a need to address this problem quickly? If that does not happen there will be an even greater outflow of members from the Defence Forces, thus creating a greater crisis?

The Minister of State read out proposals. Proposals are not good enough, considering the approach that has been taken by the Government in recent years, continuously targeting those who provide vital service to the State. Most of the concerns that PDFORRA, the Defence Forces members and the WPDF group have outlined thus far have not been addressed.

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