The Chief of Staff of the Defences Forces has warned that staff shortages may get worse before they get better.
Speaking at the RACO conference in Naas, Co Kildare, Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett said that while there was a need to attract new people to join the Defence Forces, the main effort now had to be on the issue of retaining those who are currently serving.
Asked whether he was confident that with the current 9% shortfall in Defence Forces membership he would be capable of defending Ireland, he said he had confidence in the Governments's High Level Implementation Plan for reforms and that they would succeed in attracting new recruits and retain existing personnel.
He voiced concerns about last week's acceptance in principle by the Irish congress of Trade Unions of PDFORRA as an associate affiliate, saying it undoubtedly had legal, management and operational considerations.
He reiterated that any diminution in the unconditional delivery of defence services to the Government would present challenges for the Defence Forces.
The chief of Staff has previously indicated to the Government that such affiliation could jeopardise national security, but he said today that any decision on vetoing affiliation to ICTU would be a matter for the Government to decide on institutional arrangements.
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He said the Government needed to be confident at all stages that when it needs the Defence Forces there will be no ambiguity about delivery of security other Government services.
He said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on recent comments by President Michael D Higgins on pay for Defence Forces personnel.
Asked about arrangements for border security in relation to Brexit, he said that the policy parameters remain unclear.
He said the lead on that issue was a matter for the gardaí, and he will be liaising with the Garda Commissioner as matters evolve.
Asked whether he would favour introduction of a rent allowance for Defence Forces personnel facing difficulties due to the accommodation crisis - similar to that which applies in An Garda Síochána - he said he would fully support any initiative that improves retention within the defence forces.
Pledge to restore the Defence Forces to full strength of 9,500
Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe has pledged to restore the strength of the Defence Forces to its full compliment of 9,500 - but is unable to put a timeframe on meeting that target.
Speaking at the RACO conference in Naas, the minister was asked about the comments by Defence Forces Chief of Staff Mark Mellett that the staffing crisis could get worse before it gets better.
He said there was ongoing recruitment in an attempt to return to full strength, and that many people had had an outstanding career in the Defence Forces.
When it was pointed out that people were voting with their feet, he acknowledged that there were challenges.
Mr Kehoe said a combination of the recent Public Service Pay Commission recommendations for a €10 million package of allowances, and an Implementation Plan to bring them into effect, would bring real tangible benefits which personnel would feel immediately.
He refused to indicate when two naval vessels currently out of operation due to staff shortages would return to service, noting they were on "operational pause" and would continue to be so.
He acknowledged that shortages of some personnel in key areas were posing a big challenge at the moment - and he was awaiting proposals to address the difficulties.
Mr Kehoe also said that he could not stop other branches of the public service from recruiting members seeking to leave the Defence Forces, at a time when they are 1,000 below full strength.
He noted that in attempting to recruit personnel they were competing against a very strong economy which was almost at full employment.
Asked about the potential role of the Defence Forces regarding Brexit, he said the first line of responsibility for security lay with An Garda Síochána - but that he had no desire to return to the difficult times of the past.
He also told RACO delegates that he has agreed to restore Fixed Period Promotions in a bid to address the recruitment and retention crisis, subject to the Department reaching agreement with RACO on details of the revised scheme.
Failure to address staff shortages 'truly shameful'
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO), Commandant Conor King told its conference in Naas that the impact of operating with reduced numbers was already being felt across the Defence Forces, with ships unable to go to sea, and aircraft not flying as a result of personnel shortages.
Commandant King, who was addressing delegates in the presence of the Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe, described the failure to address deterioriating staff shortages as "truly shameful" - and he called for urgent, fundamental and remedial action.
He accused management of continuing to focus solely on unprecedented levels of recruitment at ever increasing cost to boost numbers, but warned that the deliberate failure to address retention was compromising the entire HR function.
He told delegates: "No amount of water will fill a leaky bucket."
He described the current industrial relations climate in the Defence Forces as "unfortunately and unnecessarily adversarial".
He also told delegates that morale had never been lower in his 20 years of service, and the current turnover rate is 10.3%.
He said several reports had identified that the loss of expertise was impacting negatively on the safety, operational performance and wellbeing of the Defence Forces personnel.
Commandant King reiterated RACO's view that trade unionism is incompatible with military service, and called for an independent pay review body for the Defence Forces in recognition of their unique status, including having no right to strike.
This is at variance with the position of the enlisted personnel's organisation PDFORRA, which just last week was accepted in principle as an associate affiliate of the Irish Congress of Trade.
The RACO General Secretary also criticised changes to pension arrangements for Defence Forces Personnel, who are forced to retire earlier than other public servants.
He said new entrants would have no option but to exit the Defence Forces if they wished to secure a viable financial future.
He described this as shameful, warning that it was the single biggest factor negatively affecting retention.
Defence Force members will receive immediate benefits, says Kehoe
In the Dáil today, Minister Paul Kehoe said that members of the Defence Forces will receive the immediate benefits of new allowances.
He said there were year-on-year increases in core pay for members of the Defence Forces.
He added there was an implementation plan and a clear set of guidelines for pay which the Government was following.
He was responding to questions from Sinn Féin's Sean Crowe who said families of Defence Force members were going hungry.
Fianna Fáil's Jack Chambers said that members were on the poverty line.
He also claimed the Government would underspend its budget for the Defence Forces because of the fall in personnel numbers.
Deputy Chambers said the Department of Defence was €24m under budget due to the retention crisis.
Minister Kehoe said that any additional funds would be used for infrastructure and equipment.
