MEMBERS OF Operation Pontus, the Navy mission deployed to assist in the rescue of over 15,000 migrants in the Mediterranean are still awaiting clarification on a pay allowance, according to a member of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDForra).
Mark Keane, Vice President of PDForra explained that members had first been deployed in May 2015 and had engaged with the Italian navy in rescuing migrants.
Mr. Keane said: “They were told it would attract a higher level of pay as there was a higher level of risk. They’re working off the Libyan coast which is a conflict area.”
He added that the Navy ships were picking up between 600 and 650 people and had a crew of just 59.
Despite this, he said, the Navy members never shied away from doing the work but sought addition pay when the mission deployed. At present, he said, members were on amounts varying from €4.15 to €8.15 per hour depending on length of service. Both figures were below minimum wage, he pointed out.
The average age of serving members, he said, was 20 and were on approximately €200 per week as there was a wage drop after 2013.
He said that the pay increase they were seeking would amount to €15 per day and a total of about €250,000 across the board.
“It’s not a king’s ransom. It equates to about €1,300 per year per member but there is growing frustration amongst our members. It’s almost two years on and they are still no clearer on the matter.”
PDForra has argued since May 2015 that the crews operating in the Mediterranean should be given the higher ‘armed allowance’ as they were carrying rifles and machine guns.
However, the Department of Defence refused to provide this allowance, instead paying a lesser unarmed allowance. After an adjudicator stepped in, the department finally relented and it was agreed to pay each sailor an additional €15 a day.
“That decision was made in November 2016 but we still have no clarification on when that pay will be administered. Minister of State Paul Kehoe presented medals to the Navy members recently but we want to know why he doesn’t put pressure on the Department of Public Expenditure to ‘pay our heroes’?”
“They have been called heroes by the President and the Taoiseach, but yet are still in limbo on this matter.”
Minister of State, with responsibility for Defence said: “Members of the Naval Service have already received the main allowance due to them for their participation in the humanitarian rescue operation in the Mediterranean.”
He acknowledged that the claim for further payment had gone to an adjudication hearing that took place on Wednesday, October 26, 2016.
“Following the hearing, further discussions took place between my Department and PDFORRA. The outcome of these discussions is currently under consideration by my Department in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.”
He said his department was continuing to update PDFORRA as developments occurred.
He added: “The matter remains a priority for me. I am committed to ensuring that members of the Permanent Defence Forces are recompensed fairly and transparently. I hope that the matter should be concluded within the next few weeks.”
