An Cosantóir

16 | PDFORRA ADC 2013 by Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald Photos Sgt Mick Burke Brig Gen Colm Campbell (ACOS) PDFORRA President Mark Scally Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Mr Alan Shatter TD PDFORRA General Secretary Gerry Rooney T he Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) held their 22nd annual delegate conference in White's Hotel, Wexford on October 2nd. The main topic at this year's conference was a call for a review of post-January 1994 entrants' terms and conditions, under which privates and corporals can only serve up to 21 years; sergeants can serve up to age 50; and senior NCOs can serve to age 56. Due to the government's implementation of a moratorium on promotions in the public service, introduced in 2009, a number of personnel are now facing not being re-engaged after 21 years service because they don't meet these contract terms. PDFORRA submitted a claim for a review of these terms and conditions in June 2011, based on allowing all post-1994 personnel the opportunity to serve beyond 21 years, subject to meeting the established fitness, medical, conduct and overseas service criteria. The Association says that no progress has been made on the claim to date. PDFORRA submitted a further claim in July 2013 seeking to address important associated issues such as the establishment of a process to prepare personnel for exit from the PDF, including training, accreditation, and job sourcing, etc; an appropriate level of service gratuity to be paid to those exiting on pension with 21 years' service to take into account the discontinuation of pre-discharge leave (PDL); and the payment of a termination lump sum to those who may be compulsorily discharged. PDFORRA have also called for the establishment of a sub-committee of the Conciliation Council to address these urgent issues. Brig Gen Colm Campbell (ACOS), who attended the conference on behalf of the Chief of Staff, addressed the committee and delegates. He thanked them for their early consultation on the recent re-org and congratulated them on the excellent work carried out on their members' behalf, ensuring that extraordinary challenges were overcome in order to achieve the best possible outcome for all stakeholders. He continued: "The White Paper on Defence in 2014 will set out a balanced and practical defence policy framework for the following decade. This will frame the strategies that will enable the continued An Cosantóir November 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie development of the organisation that we all cherish. The leadership, loyalty, hard work and commitment of the membership of PDFORRA has been central to that development. Your devotion to duty has never wavered and you have carried out those duties at home and abroad in an exemplary manner, which reflects the very best traditions of Óglaigh na hÉireann." Following this PDFORRA President Mark Scally addressed the conference. During his speech he thanked former Chief of Staff Lt Gen Seán McCann, and former Secretary General of the DoD Michael Howard, both of whom recently retired, saying: "We wish them a happy and pleasant retirement and we look forward to working with their successors." In his address the president also said: "A new morale low is now in place and I call on all partners to work together to achieve better conditions for our members." In his speech to the conference the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD said: "The last 12 months have seen some of the most significant organisational reforms in the history of the Defence Forces. These reforms have played a very significant role in maintaining defence capabilities and outputs within the current reduced resource envelope. This has resulted in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force being stabilised at 9,500 personnel. The successful consolidation of army units within a two-brigade structure is something which could not have occurred without the co-operative engagement of PDFORRA and its members. Great credit is due to you for your constructive and professional engagement and I want to thank you for that." He continued by saying: "This year marks the centenary of the foundation of the Irish Volunteers. The state commemoration planned for November will have particular relevance for the Defence Forces. The military professionalism and tradition of loyalty which was set by the Irish Volunteers a century ago is evident in today's Defence Forces. Many of you here today will play a significant role in this ceremony and in other centenary commemorations as we move through this decade of commemorations."

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