Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Morale is at an all-time low. Numbers are at an all-time low. The Tánaiste is a former Minister of Defence, and I expect a lot more from this Government. Last Tuesday I read an article in a newspaper by an ex-officer of the 27th Battalion. The officer said that nobody joins the Army to get rich, but neither do they join the Army to qualify for family income support. Please stop treating these people like second-class citizens. They can strike, but they do not want to strike. An Garda Síochána went on strike in the last number of years. Are we going to force the Irish Army to go out on strike? Members of the Army sacrifice their time, as do their families.

It is about time the Government sorted out the Army once and for all.

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