Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my Oireachtas colleagues for facilitating me in speaking on this motion. Corrective action is required immediately to restore the confidence of Army, Navy and Air Corps personnel, especially those in the lower ranks. Our Naval Service forces and ships are based at Haulbowline near Cobh in my constituency of Cork East. Many Army exercises are carried out at the range at Kilworth Camp, which is also in my constituency. We must not forget the former Fitzgerald Camp in Fermoy. The town of Fermoy and the surrounding areas continue to have a strong connection with the Defence Forces. The comments we have been hearing during this debate are reflective of the mood of the public in Cork East. I am not here to bash the Minister of State but we cannot allow the role of many members of the Defence Forces to be affected when jobseekers' restrictions kick in. In other words, some members of the Defence Forces would be better off in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. The Minister of State gave the House some figures earlier with regard to various payments and so on. I am hearing that in some cases, people join the Army because they cannot qualify for jobseeker's payments. I am concerned about the future security of this country. During President Trump's visit to Ireland last week and the Papal visit last year, we almost got a blow-by-blow account of the operation of our Defence Forces over the national airwaves. This can be attributed to the frustration of ex-members of the Defence Forces and the spouses of current members, who have been campaigning tirelessly for some time. The Minister of State must seek to fix the pay and conditions of military personnel with immediate effect. It is said that one should look after one's own first. The Government is prepared to give an open chequebook to fund the European defence mechanism through PESCO at the expense of our own Defence Forces. I ask the Minister of State to resolve the matter.

See this speech in context