Defence Forces conditions: Personnel deserve top pay
In an address to the UN last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke about the need to “provide a voice for the oppressed around the world”.
His eloquent words could easily apply to the Irish Defence Forces, many of whose members continue to be oppressed by low pay and appalling working conditions.
They are not allowed voice their complaints, let alone take strike action, yet many of them are now digging deep into near-empty pockets to extract themselves from the army and naval service.
It is little wonder there is a crisis of manpower when those who put their lives on the line in the service of their country are forced to work additional hours, resulting in pay that is less than the national minimum wage.
Large numbers of soldiers, sailors, and air corps staff are buying themselves out because they are unhappy with the pay and conditions, according to PDForra, the association which represents them.
Since the start of this year, more than 170 Defence Forces personnel, and more than 1,200 in the last six years, have paid money to leave the service.
Irish army personnel have, for generations, excelled as peacekeepers in conflict zones; more recently our sailors have rescued thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean.
They deserve our thanks but, more importantly, they deserve our support in the form of decent pay and conditions.
