Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It must also be said there are many people in the Defence Forces who are pursuing very rewarding careers. It is our obligation to facilitate a rewarding and fruitful career for people, and lives for people, within our Defence Forces and there are many factors that can give rise to that. These include opportunities within the Defence Forces for progression, education, further learning, experiences in various challenging missions overseas, promotional opportunities and a good work-life balance, which does relate to the organisation of working time directive. A balancing perspective must be applied to the narrative around people working in our Defence Forces. Significant improvements have occurred in the last two years and that must be acknowledged. More is required and more improvements will occur.

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There will be significant investment on an ongoing basis in our Defence Forces arising from Government decisions that were taken as a result of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendations.

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