Sean O’Riordan: What will the Working Time Directive mean for the Defence Forces?

Hopes that the directive will be introduced soon, but fears that the State will water down its benefits

Although advised decades ago that the Defence Forces was entitled to come under the auspices of the WTD, successive governments chose to ignore the advice.

The Defence Forces has for decades been excluded from the European Working Time Directive (WTD) and while it seems it will eventually come under the scope of the legislation, there are significant concerns the Government will water it down. 

As the so-called Swiss Army Knife of the State, the military has become a multi-functional organisation, from joining peacekeeping missions abroad to responding to extreme weather events at home and offering logistical support to the HSE during the covid pandemic.