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I supported our Defence Forces at their Respect and Loyalty parade with my colleagues Deputies Jack Chambers and Anne Rabbitte TD and Clllrs Anne Duggan Connolly and Noel Heavey.
The Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces continue to draw attention to the poor pay and conditions endured by their loved ones and I continue to work on their behalf in the Oireachtas. The recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces will not be resolved until its members are paid fairly and treated with the respect they deserve. Recently it was announced that all four Naval Service Reserve motor launches have been decomissioned due to their age and the strength of the back up force has significantly decreased. The Department of Defence manpower cuts, recruitment embargoes and neglect have caused a massive crisis which will take years to rectify.