Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to illustrate the issue of the disparity in pay and conditions between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána, in particular in how they were treated during the recent visit of President Trump to Shannon and Doonbeg, to which Deputy Mattie McGrath has referred. For a 24-hour shift, members of the Defence Forces received an additional €20 per day, after tax, as part of the aid-to-the-civil-power allowance, while at the same time, members of An Garda Síochána, which supplied security for the President, earned between €1,000 and €1,500 for that visit. In addition, the Defence Forces personnel had to sleep in hangars in Shannon Airport or in tents in Doonbeg, while members of An Garda Síochána were put up in bed and breakfasts and other reasonable accommodation. This is an illustration of the disparity in pay and conditions between these two groups, which also existed during the Pope's visit last year. Is it any wonder that the morale and sustainability of our Defence Forces are now hanging in the balance? By ignoring the issues of pay and conditions and allowing the problems to build up and fester, a crisis resolution is now required. Going through the normal channels, such as the Public Services Pay Commission, is not going to solve this crisis.

6 o’clock

PDFORRA and RACO are frustrated, as illustrated by the comments of Commandant Berry when he retired recently. He stated that the Defence Forces were being dismantled, demoralised, humiliated and suffocated by this Government and were suffering a sense of betrayal by it, and still the Minister of State seems to think that a turnover of 9% is not out of keeping with other elements of the public service. To lose 9% year on year is to lose the expertise and corporate knowledge of experienced members of the Defence Forces. Continuity in the Defence Forces and in its members' expertise is important.

Members of the Defence Forces are suffering from food poverty, income poverty, fuel poverty and child poverty. Members of defence forces in other jurisdictions are offered many perks - accommodation, third level education while in the defence forces and after leaving, and health services - but no such services and supports are available in Ireland. The Minister of State should think on that.

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