Reserve forces ‘owed millions of euro’

Reserves in the Defence Forces have to travel to training and exercises at their own expense and get paid, on average, 19% less than their full-time counterparts for doing the same work. The pay reduction has been made by the Department of Defence, despite a ministerial order that enshrines equality of pay.

As a result, reservists may be owed several million euro, which they are demanding back from the Government. It comes as the Public Service Pay Commission recommendations on Permanent Defence Forces earnings has been postponed for the fourth time, and will not now be made public until tomorrow.