Defence Forces' members criticise ‘elitist' and ‘archaic' behaviour by some senior officers
Defence Forces
members this week that an 'elitist' mindset remains for many senior military figures.
'It originated a long time ago, and it is demeaning,' said Ken Holland, speaking at the annual conference of the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDForra).
'There's an elitism there among some. And you don't make any friends by saying it or sticking your head above the parapet,' said Mr Holland.
He said many members were expected to wait hand on foot like servants for senior officers in aristocratic fashion, cleaning officers' toilets and cabins and providing them with silver service at mealtimes.
READ MORE
It was a particular issue for senior officers who had trained in the UK, according to Mr Holland, as they had 'learned some of their ways'.
'Those [officers], they do demean, and I saw it myself. People felt devalued. People just felt like there was a divide there, and it was there,' he said.
Members in attendance at the conference appeared to agree, with a motion passed seeking to 'cease the practice of our members catering to the needs of commissioned officers during meal times to reflect a modern Defence Forces'.
Introducing the motion – the third such one in the last five years – a delegate told of the rigorous training that one must go through as a member of the Defence Forces: 'Why is it that these people, trained in logistics from the beginning of their careers, end up spending most of their time cleaning private cabins and toilets of commissioned officers, running around the ship to figure out their meal preferences and setting up the officers' mess table to a standard that could rival any hotel?'
The delegate spoke of a buzzer next to the officers' dining table that they could press to summon someone for their every whim during mealtimes.
'This, to me, is like calling someone like a dog,' the delegate said. 'It's not often used, to my knowledge. But, in my opinion, the fact that it exists is a disgrace.
'I've heard many speeches up here today about the Defence Forces moving into a modern Defence Forces. How can we call it a modern Defence Forces, or even a modern navy, when this archaic behaviour still exists?'
When the speaker concluded, attendees erupted in loud applause.
Another member at the conference said they had experienced demeaning demands from officers to heat their butter so it could be spread, along with shining their cutlery and fetching napkins.
Mr Holland, who retired three years ago, said it was clear from members' continued frustration that not much had changed in terms of affording them the dignity they deserve.
He said the applause received by speakers on the issue 'just goes to show that those same people are having those same issues now', he told The Irish Times. 'I'm disappointed that in 2025 these practices are still ongoing'.
A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said it did not condone any demeaning behaviour by personnel in the execution of their duties.
'We encourage any issues of this nature to be brought to the interim grievance manager, the new independent complaints process, for resolution by an external panel of HR professionals.'
The spokesperson added the duties of logistics staff on-board naval ships include 'general cleanliness of tableware and cutlery as well as the cabin and ablutions, as per the captain's standing orders'.
'A ship at sea is the epitome of teamwork in a harsh and challenging environment. The Defence Forces values the service of all of its personnel no matter how they serve the State,' the spokesperson said.
Along with the motion to stop personnel catering to senior officers at mealtimes, just under 70 other motions, primarily related to pay and benefits, were passed by delegates.
These, according to outgoing PDForra president Mark Keane, represent the multipronged approach the body is taking to tackle corrosive retention issues, as the private sector poaches crucial personnel from their ranks.
'We have recruitment measures, we now want retention measures,' he said before the closure of the three-day conference at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, Co Kerry on Thursday.
'Whether it's an independent pay review for highly-skilled personnel, whether it's the duty payments announced in a review that was contained in the
Fine Gael
manifesto but never made it into the programme for government.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
‘It's important to keep it sustainable': Burke defends plans to cut VAT for hospitality sector
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has defended plans to cut VAT for the hospitality sector. The planned decrease would see VAT fall to 9 per cent at a cost cost to the exchequer of €545 million. 'The tourism sector is a very important part of the economy. At this point in time, over 200,000 people are employed in it. It's a €9 billion sector. And it's so important to try and keep that sector sustainable,' he told RTÉ's Today show. 'We've seen over the last number of years a very significant number of independent small food outlets and coffee shops come under pressure, many restaurants closing their doors. But this is a jobs measure to sustain the employment in that sector,' he said. .' READ MORE 'I've been in coffee shops and indeed restaurants where I've seen their margins diminish and some making a very significant loss that they weren't the prior year, considering in many cases their trade and turnover has sustained.' The Minister said the best value for money would be to sustain jobs. The Restaurant Assoication of Ireland's new president, Sean Collender, told the Today showthe VAT reduction would be an important step to support the industry. He outlined the challenges faced by it including rising costs such as labour, energy, and other operating expenses. He also spoke of the need for a broader framework and support from the Government to help the hospitality industry remain viable, beyond just the VAT reduction. This includes addressing issues like the risk-reward ratio for opening businesses and the high failure rate in the industry, he said. Mr Collender also spoke about the difficulty in guaranteeing price stability or reductions for customers, even with the VAT reduction. He said this is due to the significant cost pressures the industry is facing because of rising costs, especially for property/rent and on the ability of hospitality businesses to provide a good standard of living for their employees.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn?
The Government's updated National Development Plan (NDP) proposes to spend a vast sum of money on capital infrastructure. But beyond three 'mega projects' there is little detail and the vagueness of the document has led to some skepticism. In part one of today's Inside Politics podcast, Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan to discuss the NDP and whether the Government's promise to prioritise infrastructure could survive a major economic shock - the kind created by heavy US tariffs, for example, They then look at the Summer Economic Statement, also revealed this week, which shows there will not be much wriggle room in this year's Budget. In part two, back to the NDP and what it says about the Government's plan for the development of transportation infrastructure. Dublin's proposed MetroLink is one of the three mega projects identified, but there is €20 billion earmarked for other unidentified projects. Where should it go? How much will be spent on new roads, and what are the implications for carbon emissions? And what about public transport projects outside Dublin? Professor Brian Caulfield talks to Hugh and Pat. READ MORE Brian Caulfield is a Professor in Transportation in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years for refusing to provide sample to Garda
Former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to two offences: failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act and failing to stop after a collision. The incident occurred on October 11th, 2024, when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. READ MORE The vehicle veered across the road and collided with a car waiting at a junction, but did not stop. It was later pulled over on St Patrick Street. When approached, Keaveney appeared intoxicated, was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. He was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor despite a formal demand. His solicitor said Keaveney had been under significant personal strain, including the recent deaths of both parents and ongoing chronic pain from spinal surgery. She said he had no previous criminal convictions and had asked to see his own doctor at the station, which was not possible. He is a father of three, including an infant. 'Mr Keaveney is not the sort of person you expect to see before the court,' she said, citing his background and cooperation. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after he produced valid documents. A long-time figure in politics, Keaveney began his political career on Tuam Town Council in 1999 and was elected to the Dáil in 2011 as a Labour TD for Galway East. He lost the party whip in 2012 over a vote of conscience on a Government plan to cut to an annual care grant as part of the 2013 budget and later joined Fianna Fáil, becoming the first sitting TD to cross directly between the two parties. He lost his Dáil seat in 2016 and later served one term on Galway County Council.
