Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will support the motion and we have tabled an amendment to strengthen it. There is significant pride in the Defence Forces among the public and its members. One of the items that features prominently in museums up and down the country is the blue hats from peacekeeping missions. I refer to the many peacekeeping missions members have been on and how well the Defence Forces represented Ireland and how well regarded they are internationally, which rightly is a source of significant pride. It is also a source of significant pride for the members of the Defence Forces and for their families. I have the honour of representing a constituency which is home to many members of the Defence Forces between Haulbowline and Collins Barracks from where many friends of mine were proud to pass out in recent years.

There is major frustration among members. Many of the people I grew up with spent a few years in the Defence Forces and then felt they had reached a dead end and that they could not go on. It was not possible on the income they were on and it was not worth the effort they had expended. They did not feel they were being properly respected. I refer to people who, on the one hand, could serve their country internationally or be inspected by the likes of the Minister of State or senior officers and then within weeks be before me or somebody else in a clinic trying to figure out how they would pay the bills and keep the roof over their heads. That is the reality for many of them.

The Minister of State has instanced previously that the numbers on working family payment might be small. The numbers may be small but it is a very real challenge. I have met at least one of those people. According to the Defence Forces representative organisations, approximately 1,700 Defence Force personnel could be eligible for the working family payment, which equates to 20% of the force. The Minister of State said there has been a turnover of approximately 3,500 in four years. That is significant and reflects the fact that people are frustrated.

In many respects these members are an easy target, both for Government and, frankly, elements of the media. Some of the comments Ivan Yates made are a disgrace but that is a matter for another day. They are an easy target for the Government because of the legislation that governs them, which ensures they are locked out. They do not have that voice. They rely on retired servicemen and women, their families and those organisations that have done a fantastic job. The legislation that governs them has restricted them. They are an easy target and their voices have not been heard by the Minister of State.

The leaks from the report of the Public Sector Pay Commission are not encouraging. It is two years in the making. Opposition spokespersons should be briefed on it. We need to go much further than what the leaks are indicating. People deserve much more. A key element of our amendment is to seek the implementation of the working time directive within a six-month period.

These people have served their country with great pride. They are the source of great pride among their families and their communities but they are frustrated and angry. Many of them want to remain in the Defence Forces but they do not see a future for themselves and their families because of the current position. It is up to the Minister of State, the Defence Forces and the Department to fix that to ensure that the many good people who have left the Defence Forces in recent times are retained.

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