John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister will be aware, the working time directive is a major issue of concern for members of the Defence Forces and their representative bodies. It is an issue that has been consistently raised. The current shortages within the Defence Forces have put massive pressure on existing members who, in some instances, are double-jobbing and triple-jobbing. In some instances, this is also leading to mandatory selection for overseas duties. It is putting members under serious pressure.

The Minister stated that a field study was conducted in 2021, which I welcome. Will the findings of that study be made public and have they been shared with the representative bodies of members of the Defence Forces? It is an issue of serious concern and probably the fundamental issue when it comes to pay and retention within the Defence Forces. It needs to be addressed in full.

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