State ‘taking advantage’ of army personnel

The Government is taking advantage of Defence Forces personnel by not addressing retention, poor pay and conditions as it knows they will not strike.

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Lisa Chambers, who made the claim, said the fall-out from a study by the University of Limerick on attitudes among Defence Forces members clearly showed them “being pushed to the limit”.

The survey, exclusively revealed by the Irish Examiner, highlighted serious concerns raised by all ranks in the Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps. It paints a bleak picture showing the Defence Forces lacking expertise in vital areas due to a brain drain, low morale, and poorly paid with personnel requiring second jobs to survive.