Naval crews in Mediterranean in battle for allowance

The armed overseas allowance is worth an extra €28 a day. Currently, the crews receive €50 a day tax-free, unarmed benefit.

Last October, then Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, told a PDforra conference that he would agree to conciliation and arbitration on the claim, but it still hasn’t been heard.

PDforra, which represents enlisted men, said crews regularly had to take knives and other weapons off migrants, detain suspected people-smugglers, and said there was increased threat in the region from IS terrorists who control large swathes of the Libyan coastline.

“It is ironic that our members are protecting the rights of these migrants, which they are more than willing to do, and yet they can’t get their own rights,” PDforra deputy president, Mark Keane, said.

“The crews are being honoured as heroes, won a ‘People of the Year Award’ and have had civic receptions hosted in their honour. But this won’t feed our members, many of whom are very poorly paid,” he said.

RACO, which represents officers, said it was also pushing for the allowance to be paid.

RACO said it understands that a considered case was presented by the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Hugh Tully, supporting the requirement for armed-response capabilities to mitigate possible threats in the area of operations.

In a statement, RACO said that considering the Department of Defence’s previously stated position, that the allowance would be paid in support of personnel “engaged on the ground in the theatre of military operations” who endure physical and health risks, long and unsocial hours during operational tasks and being deployed 24/7, it is surprised it does not support the case for payment of the allowances.

It said there were identified threats on the Mediterranean mission and, therefore, the requirement for an armed-response capability.