Page 34 - Signal Winter 2019

| RACO BDC 2019 |
Delegates listen to the speeches
and appropriately costed, recommendations to Government to improve the working conditions in the Defence Forces. Improvements that are required to sufficiently reward and retain our personnel.
Sadly, over this same period, the Conciliation and Arbitration process also withered on the vine and, therefore, has not served as a mechanism to address the ongoing IR, HR or related issues. However, at your direction Minister, the Barry report was initiated and completed (but, unfortunately, not yet implemented). The findings of this report include many of the much needed reforms required to bring the C&A scheme back into relevance. In addition, I am further encouraged by your most recent remarks regarding the independent chair of the scheme. The Defence Forces will be heartened that you are determined to swiftly resolve any further impediment to the nomination of the chair. It is essential that there are no more delays. It is the delay in each of the ongoing processes which serves as a constant frustration for all involved.
EFFECT
It goes without saying that our members understand that it is difficult to secure improvements in pay or secure cost-increasing measures within the Defence Sector. Similarly, our members understand that there is a potential for contagion into other areas
of the public service. And yes, our members also understand the constraints and limitations of the public finances and the resource envelope available to Government. However, what also must be understood is the day-to-day reality for those same members in the face of measures which fall short of addressing the ongoing retention crisis. This brings me on to my next point, that is the effect the current turnover rate is having on our members, and indeed all of the women and men of Óglaigh na hÉireann.
I continue to be enthused by the attitude of the junior officers I have met over the last 4 years in my capacity as the RACO President. There is a willingness to go above and beyond to complete our allotted taskings; and an unquestioning loyalty that is ever-present. The pride in the uniform transcends the challenges they face daily. Notwithstanding, this willingness, coupled with an increased risk and lack of governance at the operational level, remains a concern as it sees us continually pushing the boundaries to the point that the cracks are beginning to appear. And I cannot over emphasise the knock-on effect that this is having on mental health and morale throughout the officer ranks. These are not new issues. In fact, the risk and governance concerns that I outlined to our conference in 2017 persist and are even more stark today.
In line with RACO’s vision statement, that is “To Champion The Wellbeing Of All Our Members”, it is incumbent on us to continue to highlight these concerns.
WHERE NEXT
Lastly, if I can close with my understanding of where we go from here....
RACO were recently invited to a meeting with An Taoiseach to discuss our concerns and key issues. Your General Secretary, Comdt Conor King, along with the Deputy Gen Sec, Lt Col Derek Priestley, represented your interests to great effect and clearly elucidated the core issues facing the Defence Forces at present. I was greatly encouraged by the manner in which this meeting was conducted, with An Taoiseach and Minister Kehoe exploring short-term and long-term solutions to long-standing issues. We
Comdt Tom Bouchier, Standing Orders Committee, Comdt James O’Hara, DF Press Officer, Lt Col Derek Priestley, Dep Gen Sec, RACO
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