SOLDIERS’ REPRESENTATIVE group PDforra (Permanent Defence Forces and other Ranks Representative Association) has brought a legal challenge to a 25 per cent cut in travel and subsistence allowances.
The reduction affects some 260 soldiers involved in training with 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. It denies the measure was unlawfully introduced.
At the High Court yesterday, Michael Howard SC, for PDforra, 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.
Sgt Michael McKenzie, a member of the association’s executive, said he and members of the Defence Force receive a special allowance if involved in training duties with the reserve defence force.
Sgt 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.