THE CHIEF of Staff of the Defence Forces has told the soldiers’ representative body, the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (Pdforra), that the military will “do its duty” if asked by the Government to fill essential services if public servants go on strike.
Lieut Gen Dermot Earley insisted this would be the case during “informal” talks with Pdforra after it had sought assurances two weeks ago that they would not be ordered “to break” strikes by public servants angered by the Government’s plans to introduce a pension levy on State employees.
Responding to questions from The Irish Timeslast night, a spokesman for the Defence Forces acknowledged the Chief of Staff had made his views known to Pdforra.
“There is a question of where the Defence Forces are asked to maintain essential services. That is not in doubt,” the spokesman said.
“All of the comments were discussed. I am not going to discuss the detail of those discussions.
“But they are fully aware of the position in law. If we are requested to do something, that is not in doubt,” he added.
However, the organisation is today to issue a statement announcing it is to join Saturday’s national day of demonstration by public servants, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, against the Government’s plans to impose a pension levy.
If nationwide public service strikes were to take place, soldiers could be used to provide security in the country’s prisons and other institutions and, perhaps, offer emergency public transport.
The increasingly public position being adopted by the soldiers has also led to contacts between the Department of Justice and the Prison Service, which is worried by possible industrial action by the Prison Officers’ Association, and further “contingency planning meetings” are scheduled.
Pdforra, according to some sources, has been encouraged in taking its position by the presence of the Garda Representative Association at a protest this week outside Leinster House, and the likelihood they will joined by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
The Chief of Staff’s concerns have been echoed by senior Department of Defence officials in their dealings in recent days with Pdforra.
In these contacts, the representative body was told that it is “an association and not a union” and that it is not entitled to express opposition to or opinions about “operational matters”.
Questioned, the Department of Defence said that “formal contacts” had not taken place with Pdforra on the issue, but informally the department’s opinions were expressed.
The Department of Defence has also written to the organisation to complain about its decision to publish a series of newspaper advertisements in October criticising the closures of army barracks.
In a written Dáil reply earlier this month, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea said: “As has been done in the past, the Defence Forces may be called on to contribute to maintaining vital services in times of industrial action.”
However, Pdforra remained unrepentant last night.
The organisation’s president, Gerry Rooney, said it has had reason “to make comment on a number of issues affecting members in recent months.
“It will continue to keep these matters under review and it will continue to take action, as appropriate,” said Mr Rooney, in a statement released to The Irish Times.
While the organisation did not officially confirm it last night, it is understood that it plans to issue a statement at 11am today announcing its intention to take part in Saturday’s national demonstrations.
Two weeks ago, Mr Rooney sought assurances from Mr O’Dea that soldiers would not be used, as they have been in the past, to fill jobs vacated by striking ambulance staff and bus workers.
Mr Rooney then said that soldiers supported the opposition to the pension levy and complained that is “unfair and bitterly disappointing for soldiers, sailors and aircrew of the Defence Forces.
“These personnel, many of whom have given long and dedicated service both at home and overseas, are now being unfairly used to address mistakes made in the management of the national economy in which they had no role,” he then said.
Following the October budget last year, Pdforra criticised Mr O’Dea’s apparent support for a plan to close a number of Army barracks in response to a need to cut departmental spending.
The closures, it then said, were “not necessary” and “would yield little in the way of additional revenue” and actually would cause increased spending because other barracks would have to be upgraded.