Examiner.ie - Contract extensions to allow 500 members to remain in short-staffed Defence Forces - 19 Dec 21



Contracts for Defence Forces personnel which were due to expire at the end of next year are to be extended, allowing around 500 privates and corporals to remain in service up to the age of 50.

Contract extensions to allow 500 members to remain in short-staffed Defence Forces

Defence Minister Simon Coveney at a ministerial review of 119th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, earlier this year.

 

The move, announced by Defence Minister Simon Coveney, will come as a relief to the Defence Forces which is already short 1,000 soldiers, sailors, and air crew.

The personnel concerned were recruited after 1994 and were given shorter-term contracts. However, these are now being extended, providing they pass certain criteria — including medical and fitness tests.

Sources say the Defence Forces could ill-afford to lose the 'post-94' cohort of highly experienced personnel.

There still, however, remains some uncertainty around the future of around 200 sergeants, who are also subject to the post-94 contracts.

Mr Coveney said a decision on them will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Defence Forces representative association PDForra.

“A review of the service limits for enlisted personnel has been one of my priorities,” said Mr Coveney.

We have a professional, fit and healthy Defence Forces who are required to pass regular medical and fitness tests. It is important for the future of our Defence Forces that these highly trained and experienced personnel are retained.

“It's also important for individual personnel in terms of providing certainty and clarity on their future careers. I know that this was a pressing matter for serving soldiers and their families."

Mr Coveney said because of the nature of their duties, there is a need for the Defence Forces to maintain a low age profile across all ranks, but he noted that “even with the increase in mandatory retirement age for this cohort of personnel, the age to which certain Defence Forces personnel can serve is lower than other public service groups".

He said his priority still remains the return of the Defence Forces to their full strength. It is hoped that contracts will be extended for sergeants to serve until they are 56.

Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, welcomed the announcement.

The men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann are our greatest asset, and therefore retaining these experienced, highly trained, and knowledgeable personnel is a key enabler in strengthening our capability,” he said.

PDForra general secretary Gerard Guinan said:

“PDFORRA has championed the security of employment for Post-94 personnel for a protracted period, and the association is now going to engage with the Department of Defence to clarify all aspects of this agreement, as it potentially represents a seminal moment for all of the Defence Forces."