Today in the Seanad, I introduced my Defence (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017. This Bill provides for the establishment of a Veterans Lapel Badge to be conferred upon former members of the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and Reserve Defence Forces by the Minister for Defence. The purpose of the Veterans Lapel Badge is to raise the profile of our Defence Force Veterans who have served their country with bravery and loyalty either at home or abroad or both.

Speaking today Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell former 1st Infantry Battalion Sergeant,  congratulated the Defence Forces under Chief of Staff  Vice Admiral Mellett on the graduation of 200 Defence Forces members at a conferring ceremony at the Institute of Technology Carlow.

Today I wrote to the Taoiseach in his capacity as Minister of Defence regarding the recent Public Appointments Service advertisement for a new post of Assistant Secretary Defence Capability (People) Department of Defence at a salary of between €128,000 and €146,000 per annum. I wrote because I was at a loss to understand the rationale for this new post as both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces already have very well staffed and effective HR sections which manage the recruitment, induction, training, development and other HR services for their civilian, civil service and military personnel. 

By the end of September, the Irish Defence Forces (DF) will have reached an all time low. An all time low in numbers and in morale. Proud experienced Officers, NCO’s and enlisted women and men are walking away from the career they placed their hopes and dreams in. Young women and men who want to serve their country are opting for jobs in supermarkets or fast food outlets leaving behind careers destroyed by a failure of those in charge to understand their own mismanagement. The situation is I believe made worse by political interference forcing uniformed personnel to lower standards to present an image of an organisation with a plan.