Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion. We debated many of these issues three weeks ago when I put 14 questions to the Minister. He failed to respond to nine or ten of them. Had he been more open and responsive, this motion might not have been tabled today. For example, I asked a sincere question on the lack of progress in capturing certain individuals and bringing them before the courts for the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe. The Minister tried to twist my question into a criticism of the Garda, which was not the case. I hope that the individuals concerned will be brought to justice sooner rather than later, but I am concerned that other issues will be factors, for example, people living in Northern Ireland, issues of extradition, etc. These issues could and should have been addressed by the Minister.

I also raised at great length the issue of the closure of rural Garda stations. Were it not for an active rural alliance group in west Cork, several other stations would have been closed. Its members attended Oireachtas briefings to meet the Garda Commissioner and made a strong case for at least six or seven rural stations.

Today, I received an e-mail from a Garda crime prevention officer in my area to the effect that he was concerned about a spate of burglaries in Cork city and permeating towns throughout west Cork, a problem typical of what is occurring elsewhere in rural Ireland.

I wish to read into the record a number of points made to me in an e-mail from an anonymous source. Doing so would be appropriate, as it mainly concerns the lack of morale in the Defence Forces. The e-mail states:

I cannot give my name as I am a middle ranking army officer with over 20 years service, including tours of duty in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Balkans. I have led soldiers on operational service at home and abroad.

Morale is at crisis point in the Defence Forces. Like every other public servant the Defence Forces will endure "parity of pain". I am part of the coping class. However, there are many in the Defence Forces who cannot any longer. I have personal experience of many truly loyal, hard working and professional soldiers with over 20 years service on Family Income Supplement. They do all they can to put food on the table and family through "free education". Now they are genuinely at their wits end.

They understand the country is in real financial trouble. But they do not understand why this agent of the state that has downsized constantly is continually enduring more reductions, cutbacks, paycuts and pain. And there is more to come with an "across the board" 10% cut in allowances and basic pay cuts as part of Croke Park II.

When I joined the Army the Defence Forces had a strength which was over 13,000, now it is below 9,500. In 25 years that is a reduction of 27% of manpower. Simultaneously 20 barracks were closed. This includes nine barracks closed in the last 5 years. As public spending increased over 120% in the boom we grew our spending by 27%, and completely modernised. Yet, before the crash in 2007, the average pay in the Defence Forces was the 3rd lowest in the public sector, below those in The Irish Prison Service or An Garda Síochána.

It seems that soldiers, sailors and aircrew are being completely taken advantage of. We cannot strike. This is not something I have an issue with, as I swore an oath of loyalty to Ireland and the Constitution. In 2013, I remain proud of that oath and what it means. This oath brings responsibility for us. If there is another "blue flu" I will be on stand-by for public order tasks, as I was in 1998. Yet, it also brings responsibility from the state and the government of the day.

Oaths, loyalty, sense of duty, pride in the uniform of the state; these are not issues considered among the Twitter-ati or the Chattering classes. They are old fashioned, simple, enduring and binding. I ask every public representative to examine what they know of the Defence Forces and show its members the loyalty they deserve.

This is a poignant plea from a person who has not only served in this country, but also internationally. It emphasises the deep lack of morale within the Defence Forces.

When I raised this issue in the House previously, I had a difficult and contentious debate on the appointment of the Army judge with the Minister, Deputy Shatter. He seemed to believe that some of my points were personal or misguided, but I had been given information by an unknown soldier.

The situation outlined in this e-mail could be replicated in the case of the Garda. I have been contacted by at least 30 or 40 gardaí throughout the country who have asked me what I am doing as a public representative to get the Minister to listen to them. Were he more amenable to meeting rank and file gardaí, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, and the Garda Representative Association, GRA, morale would be much better. It was undoubtedly due to the lack of respect shown by the Minister and his lack of engagement with the GRA and AGSI that both groups decided to walk out of the Croke Park II talks.

In itself, that indicates again a breakdown in communication.

I have had great respect for many years for the Minister of State who is present, Deputy McGinley, but I concur with the sentiments expressed by my colleague in that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, should have been present for this motion, which is serious and which was not entered into lightly. That is the reason I decided to second its proposal. I appeal to the Minister to listen to members of the Garda and Defence Forces, along with everybody else who is in some way under his remit. He is not listening and he will learn a very hard lesson over the next year or two.