An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | BY SGT WAyNE FITzGERALD PhOtOS BY SGT MICHAEL BURKE A t the invitation of PDFORRA, An Cosantóir attended the association's 23rd annual delegate conference, which ran from 30th September to 2nd October at the Clarion hotel, Sligo. the conference really took off on the second day when the assembled delegates were addressed by Minister for Defence Simon Coveney tD, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle, PDFORRA President Mark Scally, General Secretary Gerry Rooney and Deputy General Secretary Ger Guinan. Although the post-'94 topic was the one exercising most people's minds, this could not be addressed publicly as it has now entered a third-party arbitration process. Deputy General Secretary Guinan asked the minister for the immediate implementation of the European Social Charter, saying: "(It) obliges its signatory states, including Ireland, to implement a range of social rights and principles which should be applied to their citizens. The rights promoted by the charter have been brought into sharp focus by the success of a col- lective complaint by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors regarding matters such as the right to organise and the right to engage in collective bargaining, including collec- tive action." PDFORRA has written to the Dept of Defence outlining how they believe the current restrictions on their right to engage in collective bargaining, including collective action, are a viola- tion of articles 5 and 6 of the charter. In his address, Lt Gen O'Boyle congratulated PDFORRA on their 23rd conference, and for their continued engagement with the Dept of Defence and DFHQ. He stated that in the last year DF personnel had conducted over 10,000 armed escorts, and carried out 108 EOD duties (38 involving viable devices); Naval Service vessels provided 885 sea-days; and the Air Corps contributed 1,700 flying hours. Speaking with regard to the tight financial situation faced by the Defence Forces, Lt Gen O'Boyle said that the purchase of two more naval vessels (P62 and P63) and €61million required for pensions, all has to come from an overall defence budget of €150million. Lt Gen O'Boyle finished his remarks by saying: "The Defence Forces deliver value for money and continue to provide a safe and secure environment to the people of Ireland." President Scally told the assembled delegates that it had been "another demanding year for the Defence Forces, with as many as 20% of PDFORRA members on Family Income Supplement". He also criticised the last round of barracks closures, saying that they "were of no financial benefit to the exchequer". General Secretary Rooney attacked the decline in income that the association's members have faced over the last number of years. "The 2009 pension levy accounted for a 6% deduction," he said, "a further 6% (was) cut in 2010 and that's not including the Haddington Road agreement deduction. It was another year of low income for some members of PDFORRA." In his speech, Minister Coveney acknowledged "the value, importance and significance" placed by the government on the "tre- mendous work" being done by members of the Defence Forces in many parts of the world, particularly the recent UNDOF mission where Irish peacekeepers came under attack. The minister also stressed that the preparation of the new white paper on defence is a priority for the future, saying that he consid- ers it "to be the key priority to provide the defence policy framework for the next de- cade and beyond." The minister also referred to the important contribu- tion made by the Defence Forces through domestic security and support duties, and he congratulated the Na- val Service and Air Corps on the successful interception and detention of the drugs- running yacht, Makayabella, recently. Minister Coveney concluded his remarks by saying: "The painful steps that have been taken over recent years have placed public servants at the forefront in playing a key role in our country's gradual economic recovery... It is a credit to PDFORRA that despite the significant challenges faced during the past number of years industrial relations within the Perma- nent Defence Force remain good." This year's conference also saw Mark Keane re-elected for a second three-year term as PDFORRA vice president. Mark has 24 years' service in the Naval Service and has spent the last 15 years working at local and national level with PDFORRA. Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney TD Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle PDFORRA Deputy General Secretary Ger Guinan PDFORRA General Secretary Gerry Rooney PDFORRA President Mark Scally pdForra adc

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