Defence Forces members urge Government to act on overtime and public holidays

The delay in paying an agreed €3.7m in local bargaining to more than 6,000 personnel is one of the concerns raised by PDForra. Stock picture

Rank-and-file members of the Defence Forces fear the Government may ignore the findings of an EU body that they should be properly remunerated for working overtime and on public holidays.

PDForra, the association which represents around 5,500 enlisted personnel, has called on the Government to adhere to the recent findings of the European Social Rights Committee.

General secretary Gerard Guinan said the shortfall in numbers in the military means some personnel are working a number of roles simultaneously with the result that they work longer hours than normal and “need to be appropriately compensated".

“This EU ruling represents a seminal moment as it pertains to the rights of members of the Defence Forces to receive proper remuneration," said Mr Guinan. 

EU presidency 

"As we approach Ireland’s eighth time to hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union, PDForra believes it is time for the Government to adhere to the ruling and commit to paying our members appropriately for the hours worked beyond normal working hours."

He said PDForra would welcome early engagement with officials from the Department of Defence on how to implement the findings and what the appropriate rates should be for personnel.

"This should not be left on the long finger. The public sector pay talks represent an excellent opportunity for Government to commit to implementing the findings in a fair and equitable manner to the benefit of our membership,” he said.

PDForra may press claim in courts

If the Government ignores the ruling, PDForra sources told the Irish Examiner that the association is prepared to go to the courts in a bid to enforce it.

Mr Guinan said the association needs to be granted ‘excepted body status’ under the 1942 Trade Union Act so they conclude collective agreements that are legally enforceable.

He said an additional factor that remains outstanding, and one which PDForra has championed for years, is the issue of a regulation which doesn’t allow military personnel to carry over leave at the end of the year.

“Paragraph 16 of Defence Force Regulation A.11 needs to be amended to provide for the carry-over of all leave for personnel where they have not been provided with the opportunity to avail of such leave,” Mr Guinan said.

He added that PDForra has recently commenced some legal actions on behalf of members who were impacted by the provision within the regulation.

“It is clearly less than ideal that we would have to resort to such actions,” Mr Guinan said.

He said that the delay in paying an agreed €3.7m in local bargaining to more than 6,000 personnel “is a real concern to our members".

The Department of Defence and senior military management had backed the claims but public expenditure and reform minister Jack Chambers has still not signed them off.

Defence minister Helen McEntee said the money will be paid and that she is “committed” to ensuring this.

Ms McEntee said she would also ensure it would be backdated to September 2025, when the claims were first submitted.

“I appreciate the frustration (of PDForra members),” she said.

Mr Guinan said it is important they are paid soon as the cost-of-living crisis is having a major impact on members and their families.

• Sean O’Riordan, Defence Correspondent