Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State and the Taoiseach yesterday acknowledged that many members of the Defence Forces are leaving for jobs in the private sector. The Taoiseach, however, was adamant that he was not going to fast-track pay restoration, even given the current conditions. All of the spiel that the Minister of State has just given out is technical. I am sure it is accurate. It does not, however, address the comments made recently by retired Commandant Cathal Berry. The Minister of State said yesterday that it would not be fair to single out one group in the public sector above another. The members of the Defence Forces are being singled out, however. Figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show that members of the Defence Forces are the lowest-paid workers in the public service. Some 85% are earning less than the average industrial wage. That does single out the members of the Defence Forces.

If we listen to the comments of retired officers who speak out, what comes through strongly is that they feel that their profession is under attack. They also feel that the lack of progress being made and the fact that things have been allowed to deteriorate this far is actually intentional. We can understand the notion that this is a betrayal. The members of our Defence Forces do their work and risk their lives in trying to uphold our reputation for peacekeeping as best they can. They do that because of a sense of pride and loyalty in their country. It is a relationship that is being disrespected by the Minister of State and the Department of Defence. It is going to get worse if the concerns of the members of the Defence Forces are not addressed. They are not making these issues up.

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