Gerard P. Craughwell urges end to five-year defence contracts
Gerard P. Craughwell addressed the Taoiseach on defence, praising naval service improvements in Cork and calling for urgent reform of pensions and contract arrangements. He argued the post-2013 pension and the five-year reappointment requirement are impediments to retention across the Defence Forces, Gardaí, Fire Service and Prison Service and demanded career pathways and job security to allow progression to 21 years' service.
The speaker complimented the minister for Defence for policies introduced in the last government, saying those measures have produced green shoots, and specifically highlighted that the naval service is "turning the corner" in the minister's constituency in Cork.
He challenged the advice from departmental and finance advisers that the post-2013 pension is not a retention problem, stating that it is an impediment for the Defence Forces and also affects the Gardaí, the Fire Service and the Prison Service.
The speaker called for the removal of the five-year contract requirement in the Defence Forces, arguing that having to reapply every five years is unacceptable. He urged a return to a job-for-life approach and the creation of career pathways that permit progression to 21 years' service without repeated reapplication.
He stressed these measures need to be examined urgently, saying he could speak at much greater length on the subject and pressing the Taoiseach to address pensions, reappointment rules and retention as priorities.
Praise for naval service improvements
The speaker complimented the minister for Defence for policies introduced in the last government, saying those measures have produced green shoots, and specifically highlighted that the naval service is "turning the corner" in the minister's constituency in Cork.
Post-2013 pension seen as impediment
He challenged the advice from departmental and finance advisers that the post-2013 pension is not a retention problem, stating that it is an impediment for the Defence Forces and also affects the Gardaí, the Fire Service and the Prison Service.
Five-year contract undermines career security
The speaker called for the removal of the five-year contract requirement in the Defence Forces, arguing that having to reapply every five years is unacceptable. He urged a return to a job-for-life approach and the creation of career pathways that permit progression to 21 years' service without repeated reapplication.
Call for urgent review
He stressed these measures need to be examined urgently, saying he could speak at much greater length on the subject and pressing the Taoiseach to address pensions, reappointment rules and retention as priorities.
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Transcript
it's a okay I'm not going to argue Taoiseach it'll be no surprise to you that I'm going to speak about defence I want to first compliment you on what you did as Minister for Defence and Thornish during the last government certainly the policies you put in place have seen green shoots emerge nowhere more so than down in your own constituency in Cork the naval service is turning the corner and I want to compliment you for that in the short time I have a couple of things I want you to look at the post 2013 pension I know that your advisors from deeper and finance will tell you that the post 2013 pension is not an impediment to people staying in the Defence Forces it is it's an impediment for the Gardaí it's an impediment for the Defence Forces the Fire Service and the Prison Service we have to go back and look at it too we have to get rid of the five-year contract in the Defence Forces when I joined the Defence Forces it was a job for life and it must become a job for life again we have to have career pathways that allow people to progress to 21 years service having to reapply for your contract every five years is simply not good enough and I'm coming to the end of my time I could speak for an hour on this and you know that we know that but we need to look at those things urgently thank you you you you you you you you