Kildare South Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has called for the rule forcing the premature retirement of experienced soldiers to be changed.
Raising the issue in the Seanad Senator O’Loughlin commented, “ Last week, my colleagues and I met Mr. Mark Keane, president of PDFORRA, to discuss the people who joined post 1994. If they have not been promoted, then they are obliged to leave after 20 years of service.
“If such a situation continues then we will lose approximately 1,400 personnel next year, which would be a ridiculous situation. We all know the pressure on the Defence Forces so it makes no sense to discharge medically fit and physically fit men and women who wish to remain in the force.
“There have been conversations about this matter with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, and I have spoken to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, on this matter. I hope that a decision will be made to change the situation.”