Legislation on working time should be extended to the Defence Forces, a conference for representatives of non-commissioned ranks here has been told. The annual delegate conference of the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) heard yesterday that soldiers were being expected to work 72-hour weeks with no entitlement to overtime payments.
The PDFORRA president, Mr Pat Grogan, called for the extension of the Working Time Act to the Defence Forces so that it could "put its house in order".
Together with the reductions in troop numbers, there was "no morale left" in the Defence Forces.
"However," he said, "the military authorities have managed to get themselves excluded from the Act.
"Not only does PDFORRA believe this fails to meet the criteria set out in the Working Time Directive, it will also prove short-sighted in a manner reminiscent of the deafness problems.
"On occasions, drivers are working such long hours that they are falling asleep at the wheels of their vehicles.
"Commanders might think that merely being members of the Defence Forces might abrogate them from the responsibility of ensuring their drivers have adequate rest. It is unlikely, however, that the courts will take the same view."
He said that with the reduction in size of the Defence Forces, from a strength of over 13,000 three years ago to 11,500, soldiers were working longer hours and shouldering more responsibilities than ever before.
"The 72-hour week has become the norm rather than the exception, and applies right across the country.
"Earlier this year, when people were within 24 hours of completing a 72-hour shift in Portlaoise, they had to take part in a 24-hour training exercise. This is a typical example of our members having to fill the gaps that have been created."
This environment, together with the troop cuts, had seriously affected morale.