Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Everybody in the public service would, I believe, accept that there is a special case to be made for the Defence Forces because of the type of work they do, the hours they must work and their loyalty. The exodus from the Defence Forces does not have anything to do with full employment because members were leaving in droves even during the recession. It is a pity the Minister of State does not realise that. Members of the Defence Forces are leaving because they are not appreciated in the wages they receive and because of extra duties. I have still not heard anything from the Minister of State or the Government which would stem this tide. The Minister in charge of the Defence Forces is not the Minister of State but the Taoiseach and the ball falls in his court. I ask again what specific steps are being taken to prevent the further loss of men and women working in specialised areas on which the Defence Forces depend and full members of the Defence Forces and to ensure these members do not drift towards employment in Facebook, as military policemen have done, or on cruise liners, as some in the Naval Service have done, and into other areas of the private sector. How can society retain the Defence Forces in any shape or form or will numbers be further reduced as time goes on? RACO reckon that by 2030 Defence Forces strength will be down to 7,500 members.

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