The defence forces representative association, PDFORRA has called on the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, to clarify his recent comments on benchmarking.
PDFORRA president, Mr Bill Coffey, last night said Mr Kenny should state clearly if he believes the defence forces have failed to deliver the increased flexibility and productivity demanded of its members under benchmarking.
Mr Coffey was speaking at the opening of PDFORRA's annual conference in Waterford. He said it was still unclear as to whether Mr Kenny's comments on benchmarking, in relation to public servants, included members of the defence forces.
"I would like to extend an invitation to Mr Kenny to come and see first hand the level of change and progress in the defence forces in recent years. He will find that the taxpayer is getting very good value for money, both in terms of operations and duties overseas". He added the union had "no problem" in delivering on "productivity, flexibility, or change" under benchmarking.
"PDFORRA has made known its unhappiness with certain anomalies in the benchmarking awards, particularly in relation to percentage increases to its lower paid members, the closure of barracks and constant review, restructuring and reorganisation of the defence forces over the last 10 years. There can be no doubt that PDFORRA has delivered real change for these increases".
More than €20 million will be paid to members of the defence forces under benchmarking next year. Last month, Mr Kenny started a major campaign against benchmarking at his party's conference. Yesterday The Irish Times revealed that benchmarking awards will cost the Exchequer at least €612 million next year, which represents half of the estimated final costs.
That figure emerged in a series of replies from Government departments, following a parliamentary questioned tabled by the Fine Gael leader.
Mr Kenny said the figures proved the cost of benchmarking was "spiralling out of control". He reiterated his view that benchmarking should be renegotiated and said the figures showed the 2004 bill would be €100 million higher than originally estimated by the Department of Finance in July.