Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as bheith linn chun plé a dhéanamh ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Mar atá cluinte againn go dtí seo, bíonn daoine thar a bheith paiseanta ar an ábhar seo agus is léir cén fáth. I thank the Minister of State for being with us today and for his contribution. I appreciate the fact that some Members of this House have very long-standing experience and stakes in the issues which we are discussing here today. It has been very informative and insightful to hear some of those contributions thus far and I am sure Senator Wilson will add to them after I speak.

I take the opportunity to welcome the representatives from PDFORRA and the families who are represented here today. When I get up to speak on issues like this, I sometimes wish I could instead give some of them the opportunity to stand here and say what needs to be said. I appreciate the Minister of State's input and the comprehensive report he has given. I do not think that anyone here is seeking to attack or undermine him. What we have heard so far - the collective voice from the Chamber on these issues - has been full of sincerity and has been dedicated to the men and women of the Defence Forces. There has been a very sincere and genuine aspiration to try to have some of the outstanding issues resolved. As my colleagues have outlined quite a number of those issues, I will not engage in repetition, but I wish to make a number of points while the Minister of State is here.

As has been said, the operational capacity of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has been stretched to breaking point and morale among rank and file personnel has never been lower. By any objective criteria, the attempts at reorganising the Army have been a disaster and when combined with the cutbacks in pay and entitlements it is hardly surprising that so many military families are struggling to cope.

The recent "Prime Time" report showed how the reorganisation of the Defence Forces has resulted in widespread poor morale, with low pay and long-term isolation from family and home being identified as the primary drivers of the exodus of personnel - many of them highly trained and experienced individuals. The impact of Government policy on the operational capacity of the Defence Forces cannot be overstated. The crux of this was outlined very comprehensively by Senator Craughwell during his contribution. I make this point very consciously because I believe this Government has shown an ideological stance that does not respect, cherish or appreciate the contribution of those held very high esteem within our society. For me it comes as no great surprise, although it is a tremendous shame, that a Government which leaves our senior citizens and pensioners on hospital trolleys, which leaves countless children up and down the State in hotel and temporary accommodation, and which puts people into direct provision in a most unsympathetic way would treat our Defence Forces personnel in this same way. It is indicative of a broader problematic culture, but one that certainly can be overturned, and which I hope will be.

It seems the Government is treating armed forces personnel unfairly, because they face a blanket ban on trade unions. This ban has been found to be an unacceptable violation of Article 11 by the European Court of Human Rights. The Government should lift the ban and allow representatives of the armed forces to negotiate the fixing of wages and conditions and ensure that they have access to the Work Place Relations Commission and Labour Court.

There is also serious concern about the well-being of personnel, especially in regard to the Government's refusal to withdraw the anti-malaria drug, Lariam, which is being routinely used when for most other countries it is a drug of last resort. This cavalier attitude to the health and well-being of personnel is also reflected in the way highly toxic and dangerous chemicals were handled at Casement Aerodrome. Trainee personnel were being exposed to dangerous, corrosive and cancerous chemicals. The health and safety protocols at Casement Aerodrome are wholly inadequate. There should be an urgent review of existing procedures and protocols at Casement Aerodrome and other military installations where Defence Forces personnel work with hazardous materials.

The State must also deal with claims by serving and retired Air Corps personnel more compassionately. In this regard, it should learn from the Australian military which has introduced compensation schemes to assist retired and serving air corp personnel whose health was compromised by working with dangerous chemicals. To reiterate Senator Craughwell's remarks, and not to diminish or downplay the issue, the Minister of State can spend all the money he wishes on material and capital investment, but unless he invests in people - people who put themselves at the front line and step up in the service of this State - then it is not worth a jot. Senator Gallagher referred to the issue of recruitment and this has been touched on by other speakers. I have a question and I hope the Minister of State will excuse my ignorance and perhaps even my naivete in this regard. How much can any recruitment drives for the Defence Forces extend to the North? We can signpost people in Derry to the Wild Atlantic Way and put billboards around Belfast directing people to Dublin Airport but I wonder if the Department is considering having personnel attending jobs and careers fairs or universities to provide the opportunity for Irish citizens from the North who may be able to step up and serve. It is perhaps a consideration for the future. I say this with the caveat that I would not direct anyone into a service that does not respect them, protect them or give them the necessary dignity to rear a family, build a home life and be able to serve their families and communities as much as they do when expected to serve the State, whether here or abroad. Sin mo mhéid.