Gerard P. Craughwell demands review of pension rules hitting defence
Gerard P. Craughwell urged an urgent review of the post-2013 pension legislation, saying it undermines the defence forces and the Gardaí and is driving officers to leave. He warned of diminished naval and air capacity, called for greater attention to security vulnerabilities and congratulated colleagues on recent appointments.
Craughwell said he was nominated to the Shannads by the ICPSA, which includes the defence forces and the Gardaí, and called for the Seanad to examine legislation brought in after the financial crash. He argued that the post 2013 pension scheme - described in the speech as FEMPE legislation - is detrimental to the survival of both organisations.
The senator warned that young commissioned officers and soldiers are seeking a way out because the pension is not attractive and that Gardaí are "leaving in droves" for the same reason. He urged colleagues to assess how the legislation has impacted security services and personnel retention.
Craughwell highlighted acute capacity problems, noting that when he first arrived there were nine ships at sea for the Irish navy and that today there is typically one at sea. He said the air corps does not have the capacity to defend airspace and referenced state vulnerabilities, including undersea cables, as reasons to prioritise defence.
He congratulated the father of the house who introduced a colleague, praised the appointment of a fellow Galwegian as leader of the house, and welcomed returning and new senators. Craughwell also reflected on the recent election, describing it as brutal and noting the loss of several fine senators.
The senator asked that the Seanad treat defence and security as priorities in the coming months, pressing for legislative review and reform to address recruitment, retention and the state's defensive capacity.
Pension legislation and security services
Craughwell said he was nominated to the Shannads by the ICPSA, which includes the defence forces and the Gardaí, and called for the Seanad to examine legislation brought in after the financial crash. He argued that the post 2013 pension scheme - described in the speech as FEMPE legislation - is detrimental to the survival of both organisations.
Impact on recruitment and retention
The senator warned that young commissioned officers and soldiers are seeking a way out because the pension is not attractive and that Gardaí are "leaving in droves" for the same reason. He urged colleagues to assess how the legislation has impacted security services and personnel retention.
Naval and air capacity concerns
Craughwell highlighted acute capacity problems, noting that when he first arrived there were nine ships at sea for the Irish navy and that today there is typically one at sea. He said the air corps does not have the capacity to defend airspace and referenced state vulnerabilities, including undersea cables, as reasons to prioritise defence.
Parliamentary acknowledgements and election remarks
He congratulated the father of the house who introduced a colleague, praised the appointment of a fellow Galwegian as leader of the house, and welcomed returning and new senators. Craughwell also reflected on the recent election, describing it as brutal and noting the loss of several fine senators.
Call for action
The senator asked that the Seanad treat defence and security as priorities in the coming months, pressing for legislative review and reform to address recruitment, retention and the state's defensive capacity.
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Transcript
and congratulations to you you served well as Cahirlech on your last term and I expect you will serve equally as well on this term I understand you had stiff competition and that's always healthy so it is so I'm delighted that you made it across the board to the father of the house who introduced you today a wonderful parliamentarian a great friend and I thank him for what he has done congratulations to my fellow Galwegian Sean Kine who has been appointed leader of the house and I congratulate Sean another great parliamentarian and a great Galwegian but I will take strips off in the in the coming weeks and months I mean to start as I intend to go on and having been nominated to the Shannads by the ICPSA which includes the defence forces and the Gardaí Shaikhana I think it's vitally important as a reforming house that we look at the legislation that was brought in following the financial crash and look in particular at the revision of some of the FEMPE legislation the post 2013 pension scheme which impacts the defence forces and the Gardaí Shaikhana is detrimental to the survival of both organisations young commissioned officers young soldiers are looking for a way out because the pension is not attractive Gardaí are leaving in droves because the pension scheme is not attractive so I'm asking colleagues today that one of the things we do in the very near future is look at how that legislation has impacted our security services because as we all know we've been speaking about it here for the last four or five years and uh Taoiseach Micheál Martin has taken a particular interest right now at the vulnerabilities of the state when it comes to security and defence and particularly when we look at things like undersea cables you'll remember uh Carher look when I came here first there were nine ships at sea for the Irish navy today there is one at sea at any given time the air corps does not have the capacity to as the Taoiseach pointed out today does not have the capacity to defend our airspace so I would ask that we take defence in these troubled times over the coming months as something really serious to address I know that my friend and colleagues senator Lachlan has always been very much on side with the defence forces being a Kildare woman now that we have a second Kildare senator here there might be a bit of competition between the two of you but I'm looking forward to it and uh once again congratulations to yourself congratulations to colleagues who have returned and to the new ones who are here and we did lose a number of really fine senators in the recent brutal election for it is a brutal election we didn't all get 169 votes but nonetheless I guess you're rewarded for that thank you very much indeed Carole any senator's uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh