Defence Forces ‘deserve better’, says Cork TD 

Cork TD and Sinn Féin defence spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said the Tánaiste and minister for defence Simon Harris needs to make sure that Ireland has a modern Defence Forces that is fit for purpose.

Last week, Tánaiste Simon Harris outlined that Ireland’s military spending should reach the highest possible level of around €3bn annually in the coming years.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Ó Laoghaire raised the issue of the crisis in the Defence Forces, due to what he said was Government underfunding. 

“The truth on the ground, though, is that our Defence forces is in a precarious position, because of Government underfunding. We currently have less than 8,000 in the permanent Defence Forces, well below establishment, not to mind the 11,000 recommended under stage two of the commission on the future of defence forces.

“Morale is appallingly low... in recent weeks, we have heard a lot of big speeches and announcements, lofty promises and big commitments.

Attention

Mr Ó Laoghaire added: “I welcome that the Defence Forces are finally getting some attention. I live in a city with a large amount of Defence Forces personnel, between Collins Barracks and Haulbowline, and in talking to them, they have heard this all before.

“They have heard big talk and small follow through. The reality is big speeches won’t put boots inside the barracks door, only proper resourcing and resolving the terms and conditions and income of Defence Forces personnel will do that.

“The men and women of the Defence Forces deserve better than what they have seen from the last government. Our Defence Forces are effectively at rock bottom in terms of morale, and seriously struggling in terms of recruitment and retention.”

Mr Ó Laoghaire also raised with the Tánaiste the issue of health and safety measures in the Air Corps and the multiple reported cases of long-term medical conditions, that former Air Corps personnel believe are connected to exposure to hazardous chemicals.