About 5,000 enlisted personnel have retired from the Defence Forces since 2010 and many have had to endure 'adverse pension arrangements' compared to those existing before the financial crash.
A new organisation has been set up to represent retired lower ranks members of the Defence Forces, which will primarily focus on fighting for improved service pensions and gratuities for them.
It will also offer a wide range of advice and information on job opportunities.
Rema, (Retired Enlisted Members’ Association), is being headed by Gerry Rooney, a former general secretary of PDForra, which represents more than 6,000 enlisted serving members of the Defence Forces.
The new association has been provided with funding by PDForra to get it off the ground.
“Our first task will be to recruit members to the new association and to organise ourselves in committees and working groups. Given the experience with retiree associations representing prison officers, gardaí and civil servants, we are expecting to garner around 2,000 members across the Air Corps, Army and Naval Service.
"This will allow Rema to formally seek consultation rights with the Department of Defence,” Mr Rooney said.
He said about 5,000 enlisted personnel have retired from the Defence Forces since 2010 and many have had to endure “adverse pension arrangements” compared to those existing before the financial crash.
They are also "on their own" when it comes to dealing with the Department of Defence and the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO).
“Rema will also be seeking to engage with the Department of Defence on all aspects of service pensions from providing information and updates on the one hand to seeking changes to them on the other hand," Mr Rooney said.
In particular, Mr Rooney said Rema wanted to talk about the abatement of the pre-2013 service pensions that impacts many relatively recent retirees.
"Rema’s other bread and butter work will include assisting individuals with the pension appeals process and where necessary taking cases to the FSPO,” Mr Rooney said.
He added Rema intended to address other issues including proving support for individuals who may need medical procedures undertaken and might be able to avail of them under the provisions of the Government's agreement under the cross-border Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Mr Rooney said Rema would also provide veterans with advice on employment and education opportunities, including any associated benefits.
He said it would endeavour to seek the option of membership for veterans of PDForra schemes, such as PMAS, (its healthcare system) and may even develop its own dedicated schemes for retirees.