The association representing Defence Forces officers has said it cannot vote confidence in the Government’s proposed action plan for military investment due to “glaring inequalities” for its members. The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) said that while it welcomed extra defence funding there was “little good news” in the plan for commissioned officers.
The Government on Tuesday committed to supporting Defence Forces recruitment, equipment and pay increases every year until 2028. The proposals, based on the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, which was published earlier this year, would mean that defence funding will rise from the current level of €1.1 billion to at least €1.5 billion by 2028.
“Raco welcomes any investment in defence capability, but regrettably there is very little good news in this plan for commissioned officers, who will be called upon to deliver the much-needed leadership and recruitment training that is required to increase Defence Forces strength by 3,000 people,” general secretary Comdt Conor King said.
“Defence Forces officers cannot vote confidence in a plan that sees them treated less favourably than their enlisted colleagues in terms of military service and instructor’s allowances.
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“The plan will fail without the support and buy-in from the commissioned leaders and managers of Óglaigh na hÉireann, who also deserve to be supported, respected and valued by government.”
Raco president Comdt Martin Ryan said the Defence Forces were facing a “bizarre situation” where a lieutenant delivering the instruction and training in a cadet school or training centre is “being paid less than the corporal instructor who they are responsible for in terms of mentoring, supervising, career management and guidance”.
“This inequality would not be tolerated anywhere else in the civil or public service,” Mr Ryan said.
RACO said it was seeking parity in the rates of military service allowance paid to all ranks, a reinstatement of the specialised instructors allowance for commissioned officers and immediate negotiated implementation of the European Working Time Directive.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there was an “urgent need for human resource change” and “cultural transformation” in the Defence Forces. He said there were “many practices that need dramatic transformation”.
“It will take time. That is as important a part of the commission’s recommendations as the ambition to go to a higher level of provision and defence capability,” he said.
Mr Martin acknowledged the role members of the Defence Forces played in testing, tracing and vaccination programmes throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Members were to benefit from the Covid-19 recognition payment along with other frontline workers as a result. It was “disappointing that this payment has not yet been made” to members of the Defence Forces, the Taoiseach said.
The Department of Health is due to meet formally with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform shortly to review this and “see how we can accelerate payments to those who have yet to receive them,’ he said.
