Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As others have said, PDFORRA estimates that more than 6,000 members of the Defence Forces have lost in the region of 37,000 days of annual leave in 2016 because they were overstretched and continuously filling gaps in rosters. RACO believes each of its members lost, on average, 9.6 days of annual leave in the same year. This adds up to a disgraceful position for the workers in our Defence Forces.

Annual leave is vital and it is not a gift. It is a necessity for the health and well-being of all workers. The Organisation of Working Time Act is a major bulwark against the exploitation of workers and sets out protection for annual leave, holiday pay, sick pay, night work, shift workers and overall working hours. The fact that Defence Forces members have been excluded from this is an injustice that must be rectified as soon as possible.

Further cases are backing up in the courts and in light of this judgment, it is expected that many more cases will follow. It is vital, therefore, that the Government acts with haste now.

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