An Cosantóir

PDFORRA | 37 Paul Kehoe TD, (Minister of State for Defence) Maj Gen Ralph James (D COS OPS) PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference BY WESLEY BOURKE PHOTOS BY ARMN NEVILLE COUGHLAN On the 8 October, PDFORRA held their annual delegate conference in the Hodson Hotel, Ath- lone. There were a lot of concerned and worried faces as delegates from around the country were reeling over rumours of barrack closures, which are now a reality. The President of PDFORRA Willie Webb, and the General Secretary Gerry Rooney, welcomed the new Minister for Justice and Law Reform and Defence to his new appointment, and look forward to a positive working relationship with him. The past year has seen PDFORRA members struggle to survive in what has proved to be very challenging times with pay cuts, pension levies, increased taxes, and other increased charges, on day to day living standards. Now many of PDFORRA members now qualify for family income supplement (FIS). President Webb said, "It is deeply disappointing to see that elements of the Government and Civil Service are constantly trying to bring about the total destruction of the Defence Forces by stealth i.e. the close down of barracks, disbanding of units, reduction of establishments, to a point where one would have to ask the question is it necessary to have a Defence Forces at all." Minister of State for Defence, Paul Kehoe TD acknowledged the professional and hard work done at home and abroad by the Defence Forces over the last year, partic- ularly during the visit by the US President Barrack Obama and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However these are hard economic times. He stated, "The implementation of the Croke Park Agreement is a key objective for this Government. The Agreement is an enabler of change and modernisa- tion in the public service. This is vital if we are to continue to deliver high level services to citizens in difficult economic conditions. The Agreement recognises the contribution which the Defence Sector has already made to the necessary process of budgetary adjustment to secure economic recovery and renewal." General Secretary Gerry Rooney remarked that some of the demands of the Croke Park Agreement are unrealistic given the long standing reform process which the Defence Forces have already undergone. "The State is endeavouring to implement the Croke Park Agreement and deal with the Permanent Defence Force on a 'one size fits all' basis. This approach cannot work, it's unfair and it doesn't make sense. The Defence Forces is unique in the context of the public service, with its command and unit structure and its roles, which require its members to work in all parts of the state and overseas, as decided by the Minister and the Government." PDFORRA is the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association. Our purpose is to represent and pursue the interests of enlisted person- nel serving in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, on specified matters regarding their pay and certain conditions of service in the Republic of Ire- land. All enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force are entitled to become members of the Association. To find out more about or to join PDFORRA: John Lucey House, Unit 2 Collins Square, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 - hq@pdforra.ie - Freephone: 1800 200 250 - Fax: 01 671 2484 - www.pdforra.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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