Families protest over Defence Forces' pay & conditions

Spouses and former Defence Force workers protest on behalf of current members at Renmore Barracks in Galway

Partners and supporters of members of the Defence Forces are staging protests today at every barracks in the country.

They are protesting on behalf of soldiers who cannot themselves strike or protest over their pay and conditions.

The protesters say the pay and conditions of service personnel have seriously deteriorated.

Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe said he is "committed to ensuring that members of the Permanent Defence Forces are fully recompensed fairly and transparently."

In a statement, Mr Kehoe said pay policy for public servants is defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts (FEMPI) and the Lansdowne Road Agreement and "both Permanent Defence Force Associations have accepted the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement securing protections and benefits, including pay increases, for their members."

He added that the Public Service Pay Commission is analysing and advising on the most appropriate pay levels for the public service, which will include members of the Defence Forces.

Once the report of the Public Service Pay Commission is available, the Government intends to initiate negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, so as to fairly reflect the important contribution which all public servants make, he said.