PDforra challenges pay cuts

The soldiers’ representative group PDforra has brought a legal challenge to a 25 per cent cut in travel and subsistence allowances affecting some 260 soldiers involved in training the reserve defence force formerly known as the FCA.

The State has defended the cut, implemented from early last year, as part of its efforts to secure savings of €1.4 billion in the public service pay bill and deny the measure was unlawfully introduced.

At the High Court today, Michael Howard SC, for PDforra (Permanent Defence Forces and other Ranks Representative Association), argued the measure was an unlawful unilateral variation of his clients’ terms of employment.

Opening PDforra’s judicial review proceedings against the Ministers for Finance and Justice, Mr Howard argued it was outside the powers of the respondents to introduce variations in the allowances outside the terms or mechanism of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme relating to his clients.

Michael McKenzie, Company Quarter Master Sergeant and a member of the PDforra national executive, said he and members of the Defence Force receive a special allowance if involved in training duties with the reserve defence force.

This RDF allowance had been received over many years and reflected the fact recipients had to leave home and remain on site at various locations nationwide when engaged in the relevant duties.

Sergeant McKenzie said the respondents had acted unreasonably and unfairly and breached their duty to him and others by imposing the reductions in the allowances.

The hearing before Mr Justice John Edwards continues.