Kehoe denies Defence Forces are working three 24-hour duties a week
SOME members of the Defence Forces are working three 24- hour duties in a week and can even be called back into work after those shifts are finished, Fianna Fáil deputy James Browne told the Dáil. Such situations, he said, are becoming commonplace, and at the recent PDFORRA conference, it was stated that all the military services are overstretched due to ever decreasing manpower level.
Speaking during Question Time, he said PDFORRA is calling on the Department of Defence to carry out an investigation into the physical and psychological effects such prolonged working hours are having on soldiers, sailors and air crews.
‘Delegates attending the association’s annual conference in Castlebar, County Mayo, heard many of those doing 24-hour shifts also face commutes to and from work to start and carry out those long working hours,’ he said. ‘Speakers expressed concern that many military personnel suffer from sleep deprivation and enormous stress levels.’
In response, Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe said he did not accept that members are doing three 24-hour duties per week. ‘Members are tasked with doing 24-hour duties,’ he said. ‘That is the nature of the Defence Forces’ organisation, and when members join up, they accept they have to do 24-hour duties. I do not accept that members are doing three 24-hour duties per week.’
The limitations on working time set out in the Working Time directive are for the purpose of preserving the health and safety of personnel, he added. ‘The Department of Defence and military management are aware of the provisions of the working time directive and have been working closely to progress its implementation,’ he said.
‘As I have previously informed the House, a Government decision, dated 18 November 2016, approved the drafting of the heads of a Bill to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.’