Defence Forces 'will never recover' without Working Time Directive, says RACO chief

Lt Col King added that recruitment efforts are being "severely undermined" by ongoing breaches of the WTD and unsafe staffing levels in units across the three services of Óglaigh na hÉireann. File picture

The association representing the country’s military officers has warned Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin that unless he addresses a number of issues, especially the implementation of the Working Time Directive (WTD), the Defence Forces “will never recover” from its personnel crisis.

RACO, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, provided the warning after Mr Martin recently spoke of some measures he wants to introduce to make military life more attractive.