Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by thanking the Rural Independent Group for allocating some of its time to allow me to speak on this important motion. It is evident that the work of our Defence Forces is neither respected nor valued. Our recruitment and retention emergency is systemically embedded in the Defence Forces. In the three-year period from 2015 to 2017, 1,902 personnel left the Permanent Defence Force. In the three-year period from 2010 to 2012, 1,903 personnel left it while 2,282 left in the three-year period from 2001 to 2003.

The response to the ongoing crisis in retention has resulted in an unmitigated policy failure. The Minister of State asserts that the issues surrounding staff turnover are down to the unique and demanding nature of military life without once accepting that this Government is effectively guaranteeing that it is far more demanding than necessary. The families and, in particular, spouses of Permanent Defence Force members have lost all faith in the willingness or capacity of the Government to increase pay and address the issues around conditions. Many are unable to survive financially, which is contributing to the mass exodus from the forces across the board.

As I understand the situation, the recruitment and retention crisis is directly responsible for ensuring that, at a minimum, each soldier, sailor and air crew member conducts two 24-hour security duty shifts each week along with a further 16 hours of routine duties. This amounts to an average 64-hour working week on very low rates of pay. This has to change, especially in light of the fact that the Government is committed to increasing defence spending, including more than €250 million on a ship replacement programme and a capital budget of €416 million for the 2018 to 2021 period.

I call on the Minister of State to ensure that this issue is addressed once and for all. It has dragged on. Permanent Defence Force members' spouses and families came to Leinster House just to ask for fair pay and conditions. They were forced to demonstrate. What is happening is wrong and members deserve respect and at least a fair wage for the great work that they do.

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