An Cosantóir

38 | PDFORRA PDFORRA Conference O By Wesley Bourke Photos Armn Neville Coughlan n October 3rd, PDFORRA delegates met in the Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny, for the association's annual delegate conference. On the minds of many was the ongoing re-organisation of the Defence Forces and what the future holds. Particularly prominent in the debates was the issue of changes in the area of promotions. The change from promotion-to-appointment to promotion-to-the-rank represents a cultural shift for members of the Defence Forces and it is clear that there is a great deal of misgiving over the issue. A wide range of motions were considered and voted on, including a successful motion from the National Executive calling for the reiteration of the association's support for the Croke Park Agreement and for resistance to attacks on its provisions. In his speech, outgoing president, Willie Webb, said that "spending on the Defence Forces has been cut by 22%… personnel levels have fallen from 10,500 to just over 8,500... (and that) these are troubling and traumatic times for (PDFORRA's) members." In his address to delegates PDFORRA General Secretary Gerry Rooney spoke at length on the issue of allowances, saying that for enlisted personnel many of these allowances "are part of an historic system introduced in the 1970s to deny them the chance to earn overtime payments." He went on to add that "this minimised the cost to the state at times when irregular and long hours were the norm for members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps." Consequently, General Secretary Rooney insisted that allowances paid to members of the Defence Forces "are properly part of core pay and should continue to be paid on this basis and, in PDFORRA's view, they are protected by the guarantees under the Croke Park Agreement." Addressing the conference Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe TD, said that "recent investment and recruitment was a major boost for the Forces and morale is high." He noted President Webb's call to reconsider the ongoing re-organisation but added: "Let nobody here today be under any misapprehension; there can be no turning back." He said the government understood that the current reorganisation represents "a major change in the structure of the Defence Forces and will impact on the lives and future careers of serving and future members." An Cosantóir Dec 2012/Jan 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie The minister expressed the government's appreciation of the work done by the Defence Forces both at home and overseas and finished by stressing "the government's commitment to the security of the state and the ability of a vibrant and modern Defence Forces to be able to meet its commitments in terms of investment in equipment and the ongoing recruitment of 600 enlisted personnel." Chief of Staff Lt Gen Seán McCann spoke to the delegates about the challenges facing the Defence Forces. He told them that "the single biggest strategic risk facing Ireland today is economic and not military. The current economic climate and the necessary cuts to public expenditure present all of us with enormous challenges as to how best to position the organisation in order to serve the government, Ireland and its people." He also thanked the personnel of the Defence Forces, including the members of PDFORRA, "for seamlessly continuing to deliver the full range of tasks at home and overseas throughout this difficult period." With long-serving president Willie Webb about to metaphorically hang-up his chain of office there were three nominees for the position, Michael McKenzie (NEC District), Mark Scally (Athlone District), and Thomas Whiteley (TISC District). The result was the election of Mark Scally to the position of president of PDFORRA.

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