Kildare based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has pressured the Minister to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces and to immediately establish a permanent pay review body.
Senator O’Loughlin said, “I am pleased to see such a comprehensive report into the operations of the defence forces, but it is all about the implementation process. We need to see action now, we have broken the trust of the defence community before, by failing to act- this cannot be allowed to happen here.”
“For far too long we have seen a defence force that is under-resourced, that is ignored and that has not been shown the respect it deserves. This must be a turning point for the defence community in my own area in South Kildare and right around the country.”
“The days of reports and the days of talking about reports must now come to an end. We must now move to the next phase if we are to revitalise our defence forces and if we are serious about attracting people to a career within our forces.”
Fiona concluded “In addition I called on the Minister to prioritise the immediate establishment of a permanent pay review body in tandem with my party colleague Minister Micheal McGrath. Pay and conditions for defence force personnel must improve. The establishment of this pay review body must be a priority.”
-ENDS-