Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am a bit concerned by the Minister's response because, in referring to the programme for Government, he stated the commission will be tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review, including of pay, allowances and the composition of the Defence Forces and recruitment, retention and career progression. A couple of weeks ago in The Irish Times, however, Aidan O'Driscoll was quoted as saying that the contentious issue of pay, allowances and overtime for Defence Forces personnel would not be considered by the commission. There is also the sense among the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, that this will be another wasted year.

There have been many reviews over the years and many commissions have examined the Defence Forces but the issues remain the same. They include malcontent among personnel in regard to their rates of pay and overtime, allowances and accommodation. The basic bread and butter issues and respect for the job are absent from the Defence Forces and are not being dealt with. It will be, as RACO has stated, another wasted year unless these are dealt with.

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