Government must do more to stop Defence Forces members from being lured to private sector

The Defence Forces are understrength right across the board but are critically short of technical expertise in certain areas.

The association representing 6,500 enlisted Defence Forces members says the Government is failing to pay military specialists enough to prevent them from being lured into the private sector. 

PDFORRA said the Government is ignoring recommendations of a commission it set up, which highlighted the need for enhanced pay for personnel whose skillsets took many years to develop.

The Defence Forces are understrength right across the board, but are critically short of technical expertise in certain areas.

The Naval Service lacks engine room technicians, electrical technicians and medics. There are also a lack of experienced radar technicians, air traffic controllers and army ordinance personnel, particularly in bomb disposal.

Whilst the most recent national pay agreements provided for limited funds under local and sectoral bargaining, there’s growing concern amongst the country’s military that relying on this small allocation to resolve these long-standing issues is both inadequate and counterproductive.

PDFORRA president Aaron Kearney said a recent notification from the Department of Defence that pay for specialist groupings must come from the local bargaining fund, and not from central funds, has come as “a complete shock” to his members.

“The use of the local bargaining element, which is paid on strict parameters, and as of yet unagreed timelines, will not help in the retention of personnel with specialist skillsets that are difficult to retain or replace,” Mr Kearney said.

He said the lack of a dedicated body, as recommended by the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces, to administer proper pay for specialists only serves to underpin the belief amongst many of his members “of how little is thought of the Defence Forces in real terms”. 

“PDFORRA believes years of underinvestment has given rise to the current crisis within the Defence Forces generally and specifically in areas of the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps. The stance being taken by the department will only exaccerbate the crisis and serve to adversely impact morale,” Mr Kearney said.

“We need real leadership on this issue as a matter of urgency. Our members have suffered for far too long and we are adamant that the mechanism referenced in the Commission’s report must be a standing body capable of addressing critical deficits in a timely fashion.”

In February 2022, the commission told the government specialists in the Defence Forces need improved pay as "it would enable retention of key personnel being enticed by substantially higher remuneration packages in the private sector, which is causing an adverse impact on the Defence Forces’ ability to sustain critical services".