Organisation: PDForra

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

30 years of Women in the Irish army
New body to fight for pension rights of retired lower rank Defence Forces personnel
Retired Enlisted Members’ Association to also offer advice on employment and education opportunities and provide medical support to members

Mon, 03 Jun, 2024

Insufficient allowances 'stopping soldiers sign up for EU Battlegroups' 
Insufficient allowances 'stopping soldiers sign up for EU Battlegroups' 
Insufficient allowances are stopping Irish Defence Forces personnel from signing up to EU BattleGroup, while sailors’ lives are being put at risk due to a lack of medics, according to representative body PDforra.

Thu, 16 May, 2024

Remove 'gagging order' from Defence Bill, recommends Oireachtas committee
Remove 'gagging order' from Defence Bill, recommends Oireachtas committee
Department of Defence secretary general should not sit on the new oversight body for the Defence Forces, the committee also said

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Amid attempts to land drugs on Irish coast, Naval Service can still only deploy one ship
Amid attempts to land drugs on Irish coast, Naval Service can still only deploy one ship
Lack of operational vessels is limiting the navy's patrols in Irish waters, and curtails the effect of improved Defence Forces pay

Sat, 16 Mar, 2024

26/1/2018 Largest Commissioning Ceremonies of Defence Forces Officers
Officers concerned at raising of entry age for cadets to Defence Forces
The mandatory retirement age for gardaí, prison officers, and the Defence Forces will also be increased at the end of this month to 62

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

'Our ultimate hell': Ex-army rangers tell how poor pay forced them out
'Our ultimate hell': Ex-army rangers tell how poor pay forced them out
The elite Army Ranger Wing accepts only the fittest and the best but former rangers say daring missions earned them plaudits but not fair pay

Mon, 26 Feb, 2024

Seán O'Riordan: Defence Forces may be on the brink of resolving its recruitment crisis 
Seán O'Riordan: Defence Forces may be on the brink of resolving its recruitment crisis 
Ireland’s armed forces have been hamstrung by a shortage of staff but a big increase in salaries —along with subsidies on food and accommodation which cost recruits only €44 a week — is boosting recruitment

Wed, 10 Jan, 2024

Is rent for €12 a month the ultimate weapon in fighting Defence Forces recruitment crisis?
Is rent for €12 a month the ultimate weapon in fighting Defence Forces recruitment crisis?
The Defence Forces recruitment crisis is being felt across all wings — the army, navy, and air corps. The military is losing out to the private sector on many fronts, but at €3 a week for a bed in a barracks, and €40 for food, cheap accommodation may be a weapon to extract the Defence Forces out of its current fix

Thu, 26 Oct, 2023

Naval Service unable to attract trainee chefs amid acute staff shortage
Naval Service unable to attract trainee chefs amid acute staff shortage
The Defence Forces has sought to attract people directly from the private sector but has been unable to induct anybody through this process

Tue, 26 Sep, 2023

Just 141 naval personnel have claimed sea service bonus
Just 141 naval personnel have claimed sea service bonus
To date, just 12 personnel have received all four stage payments of the incentive bonus, introduced in January 2021

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

A tenth of frontline soldiers left their jobs in the last 12 months
A tenth of frontline soldiers left their jobs in the last 12 months
As the navy is reduced to just two ships due to lack of staff, new figures confirm the army lost 627 staff in a year — and only has 49 recruits in training

Tue, 29 Aug, 2023

Naval Service's inability to put ships to sea blamed on sailors' pay
Naval Service's inability to put ships to sea blamed on sailors' pay
Representative associations say shrink in personnel could have been halted if improved sea-going patrol duty allowances were introduced

Thu, 24 Aug, 2023

Ministerial Review of the Lebanon Bound 42nd Infantry Group in Dublin
Department still has no date for roll-out of medical cover for Defence Forces personnel
Whether all enlisted personnel will be covered by the scheme for on-the-job related injuries or illness is still not certain

Mon, 21 Aug, 2023

Recruitment agency admits issues with finding recruits for Naval Service
Recruitment agency admits issues with finding recruits for Naval Service
There is a chronic shortage within the navy of marine officer engineers, engine room artificers (ERAs) and communications specialists

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

State 'saved millions by not paying Defence Forces personnel overtime' 
State 'saved millions by not paying Defence Forces personnel overtime' 
Government was advised in early 1990s that the military should be legally covered by the Working Time Directive, which means Defence Forces personnel should be entitled to the same overtime payments and restrictions on working hours as other public servants

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

Sean O’Riordan: What will the Working Time Directive mean for the Defence Forces?
Sean O’Riordan: What will the Working Time Directive mean for the Defence Forces?
Hopes that the directive will be introduced soon, but fears that the State will water down its benefits

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

18/3/2010. Army Rangers Exercises
Army Ranger Wing wins prolonged battle for better allowances
“PDForra is hopeful that the arrears recommended and the increase in the allowance will be paid shortly,” said PDForra general secretary Gerard Guinan.

Sun, 02 Jul, 2023

Net being cast globally for specialist to keep Irish naval ships at sea
Net being cast globally for specialist to keep Irish naval ships at sea
“It's somewhat ironic that in recent years some of our ERAs and EAs left the navy to go join the cruise line industry,” said PDForra president Mark Keane.

Sat, 01 Jul, 2023

Defence Forces facing another mass exodus as personnel avail of pensions
Defence Forces facing another mass exodus as personnel avail of pensions
About 2,500 can avail of service pensions this year

Tue, 30 May, 2023

Former Defence Forces Ombudsman says she struggles to sleep over sex abuse in military
Former Defence Forces Ombudsman says she struggles to sleep over sex abuse in military
'I feel absolutely awful that people didn’t feel free to come forward'

Fri, 12 May, 2023

PDForra call on government to raise 'cursory' navy allowance for first time since 1975
PDForra call on government to raise 'cursory' navy allowance for first time since 1975
PDForra also heard that current rates of pay for many cohorts of technicians are “simply not enough” and an urgent review is required to retain these highly skilled staff

Wed, 10 May, 2023

Defence Forces lodges complaint against Government over failure to pay overtime 
Defence Forces lodges complaint against Government over failure to pay overtime 
PDForra and Raco have made joint complaint under European Social Charter 

Wed, 10 May, 2023

Defence Forces cannot afford to lose experienced officers to early retirement, Martin told
Defence Forces cannot afford to lose experienced officers to early retirement, Martin told
Contracts introduced in 1994 mean that highly experienced sergeants and petty officers have to retire at 50

Tue, 09 May, 2023

1/4/2018. 1916 Easter Rising Commemorations
Pay and recruitment/retention crisis to dominate PDForra conference
'Groundhog day' for delegates attending the conference as, for more than a decade, they have predicted a meltdown in Defence Forces numbers due to poor pay and conditions

Tue, 09 May, 2023

Retired naval officer who revealed 'Raj' mentality in parts of Defence Forces speaks out 
Retired naval officer who revealed 'Raj' mentality in parts of Defence Forces speaks out 
'If someone made a complaint it was viewed as though they were going against the grain and were disloyal to the military'

Sat, 06 May, 2023

FILE PHOTO Today will see the publication of an independent report into allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the
Increasing levels of PTSD among female Defence Forces veterans, says charity
The Organisation for Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) has said it is bracing itself for more women needing its services in the coming years.

Mon, 01 May, 2023

File Photo Fianna F‡il is warning that numbers in the Defence forces have hits a Ònew low.ÓAt the end of May, there were only 8,
Defence Forces 'needs at least 4,000 more personnel to be able to operate effectively'
Figures released to the 'Irish Examiner' reveal the extent to which the Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps are all under strength

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

30 years of Women in the Irish army
Defence Forces in need of cultural reform, say PDForra and Raco 
The country’s two military representative associations were responding to the Independent Review Group report

Tue, 28 Mar, 2023

'Absurd' policy of retiring Defence Forces personnel on age grounds must end — union
'Absurd' policy of retiring Defence Forces personnel on age grounds must end — union
PDForra warns policy to compulsorily discharge more than 600 highly experienced personnel  means more ships will be tied up, aircraft grounded and fewer soldiers available for overseas peacekeeping missions

Sat, 18 Feb, 2023

Sean O'Riordan: Defence Forces are sleepwalking towards a staffing crisis
Sean O'Riordan: Defence Forces are sleepwalking towards a staffing crisis
Inadequate pay, pensions, and conditions are driving personnel out of Ireland's Army, Air Corps, and Navy

Mon, 16 Jan, 2023

Sean O'Riordan: Recruitment crisis leaves navy on 'eve of destruction'
Sean O'Riordan: Recruitment crisis leaves navy on 'eve of destruction'
With the Naval Service haemorrhaging critical staff and difficulties around recruiting personnel, Ireland is left in a vulnerable position when it comes to protecting our coastlines

Tue, 18 Oct, 2022

Navy 'will be forced to tie up two patrol vessels' over staffing crisis
Navy 'will be forced to tie up two patrol vessels' over staffing crisis
The Naval Service will be forced to tie up two large patrol vessels and mothball two smaller ships it purchased from New Zealand if immediate steps are not taken to recruit fully-trained engine room specialists to crew them.

Sat, 08 Oct, 2022

Defence Forces' health and safety section staffed by just two people
Defence Forces' health and safety section staffed by just two people
PDForra’s health and safety officer Ray McKenna said staffing at the health and safety section is totally inadequate and needs to be significantly bolstered.

Fri, 07 Oct, 2022

Sergio Mattarella state visit to Ireland
State should subsidise housing for Defence Forces members who cannot get mortgages, conference hears
Disused former married quarters in military installations 'should be refurbished as affordable homes'

Thu, 06 Oct, 2022

Defence Forces recruitment 'akin to moving deck chairs on Titantic'
Defence Forces recruitment 'akin to moving deck chairs on Titantic'
The current strength of the Defence Forces is at the lowest level since the early 1970s

Wed, 05 Oct, 2022

Defence Forces members' rations rate increased — but still less than prisoners
Defence Forces members' rations rate increased — but still less than prisoners
Department of Defence has approved an increase from €4.20 to €6.40 per day while prisoners have a daily ration of €15 a day

Wed, 05 Oct, 2022

Additional Defence Forces personnel are 'unatainable' without pay improvements 
Additional Defence Forces personnel are 'unatainable' without pay improvements 
PDForra officials warn that reform is needed to attract new recruits

Tue, 04 Oct, 2022

Soldiers lodge complaint with European court over overtime payments 
Soldiers lodge complaint with European court over overtime payments 
Government called on to alter terms of Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme which denies them the right to seek payments for hours that would, in the rest of the public sector, be classed as overtime

Tue, 04 Oct, 2022

Poor wages and staffing crisis to dominate PDForra conference
Poor wages and staffing crisis to dominate PDForra conference
Challenges facing the country's frontline military will be discussed over three days

Tue, 04 Oct, 2022

Defence Forces still haven't received €1,000 Covid-19 payment
Defence Forces still haven't received €1,000 Covid-19 payment
PDForra has written to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly three times to ask when payment will be made but has yet to receive a reply, union said

Thu, 11 Aug, 2022

Surge in sexual allegations by female soldiers against male colleagues
Surge in sexual allegations by female soldiers against male colleagues
The Women of Honour group said the  significant decline in allegations since the 1980s "is likely more to do with the greater lengths to cover up, belittle, circumvent and in essence ignore issues."

Tue, 19 Jul, 2022

Defence spending boost draws mixed reaction from representative groups
Defence spending boost draws mixed reaction from representative groups
The annual defence spend is set to rise to €1.5bn by 2028

Wed, 13 Jul, 2022

Army 'stretched to the limit' without having to cover 'failings' at Dublin Airport
Army 'stretched to the limit' without having to cover 'failings' at Dublin Airport
The army should not be used as cheap labour to cover failings at the country’s busiest airport, Defence Forces representative groups have warned.

Wed, 29 Jun, 2022

ICTU to prioritise better pay for Defence Forces members
ICTU to prioritise better pay for Defence Forces members
Defence Forces personnel are among the lowest paid of all public servants, according to Ictu

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

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