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Irish Pension and Finance A4.pdf 1 11/10/2017 15:51:33

| RACO PSPC |

Second Submission of RACO to

Public Services Pay Commission

By Lt Col Earnán Naughton, General Secretary, RACO

As a follow on to the initial Public Service Pay Commission Report (PSPC) 2016, RACO
recently submitted their second submission to the PSPC in response to the Terms
& Conditions of Service on Recruitment & Retention in the Defence Forces. RACO’s
submission outlines the “manning level” issues currently existing since 2015 while
identifying key recommendations on how to address the ongoing situation. RACO’s
full submission is available to members online at RACO.ie

Key issues identified:
• The Defence Forces trained manning levels are
C
inadequate.
M
- Inadequate trained manning levels are increas-
Y
ing risk, governance and reducing operational
capacity.
CM
MY • Absence of retention policies, ineffective 2012
reorganisation and inadequate HR policies continues
CY
to result in the exodus of trained and experienced DF
CMY
personnel.
K
• More favorable remuneration (pay, compensa-
tory allowances and pension benefits) and greater
stability in work-life balance is strongly influencing the
continued exodus from the Defence Forces into other
Private and Public-Sector Employment.
• A two-tier industrial relations regime is disad-
vantaging DF Representative Associations where
Government only need to satisfy the major Unions

PSPC 2 – Submission Summary
Continual downsizing combined with the diminution
in service conditions in the Defence Forces has placed
the organisation at a point of crisis with respect to its
trained “manning levels” across all services. A key cause
of this situation was the flawed reorganisation of the Army
component in 2012 combined with a failure to introduce
effective retention policies. The loss of a brigade from RACO Gen Sec, Lt Col Earnán Naughton
the organisational structure (which included the loss of
numerous barracks and integral units) and the reduc- to sustain. Trained manning levels are inextricably linked
If you would life to nd out more, please contact Irish Pensions & Finance on: tion in officer and personnel numbers have resulted in to safe operational capability.
Phone: 01 8298500 Text: 087 1636303 Email: info@ipf.ie Web: www.ipf.ie inadequate “manning levels” with significant far-reaching
Alternatively, you can download the Public Sector App -: implications. Troops continue to be tasked from regional Coupled with the anomalies in the organisational struc-
‘64 - The Pension Calculator’ in the App Store or Play Store. units to perform routine security duties in Dublin Barracks ture, the removal of fit for purpose and proven military
while the broader impact on those who serve is forcing an
HR policies has fueled the continued exodus of highly
exodus and at a rate which the Defence Forces are unable qualified and experienced staff. This experience can take
Owen Dwyer, David Dunleavy & Claire Hanrahan T/A Irish Pensions & Finance T/A Personal & Corporate
Professional Financial Services are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland | SUMMER ‘18 | | 11