Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a proud former sergeant of the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway. Therefore, I am distressed to find PDFORRA, the organisation which represents rank and file members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, has had to lodge a case in Europe for official recognition. The case has been lodged under the European Social Charter because PDFORRA has been excluded from national wage negotiations. As many as 20% of PDFORRA members are on such low pay that they are in receipt of the family income supplement. We have heard stories of Defence Forces members having to sleep in their cars because they cannot afford the petrol it would take to go home. Recently, we learned that Defence Forces members assigned to provide a guard of honour at the funeral of the former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, had to borrow uniform parts in order to participate.

The Council of Europe upheld a ruling by the ECSR to allow AGSI members to participate in trade union action. The ruling followed a complaint by the AGSI against a Government ban on their participation in trade union action. Why is PDFORRA being asked to fight the same battle when it has already been won? What is it about this country that we force people to go down the same legal route in order to get recognition for something they are justly entitled to?

I want the Leader to ask the Minister for Defence to come here, at his earliest convenience, to debate the current state of the Defence Forces in Ireland. Our soldiers and sailors stay up at night to guard this country, and our sailors put their lives in peril keeping this country as drug free as possible. To think that we are treating them in this way, to my mind, is abominable. I ask the Leader to organise the debate.

With the Cathaoirleach's indulgence, I shall raise an urgent issue that came to my attention this morning. I refer to the fact that people who lost discretionary medical cards and subsequently had them returned, have received solicitors' letters for their hospital visits during the short period they were without a medical card. I ask the Leader to investigate the matter and to report back, if he can.