Michael Collins would be ‘ashamed’ at how Defence Forces are treated - Dermot Collins

General Michael Collins would be shocked and ashamed that the spouses and partners of soldiers in the army that he founded are being forced to sleep outside Dáil Éireann to protest over poor pay, according to the former chairman of the Beal na Blath Commemoration Committee.

Long time Fine Gael member, Dermot Collins, who served as secretary and chairman of the Michael Collins Beal na Blath Commemoration Committee for almost 20 years, said he had no doubt that Collins would be appalled at the way the state is treating members of the Defence Forces.

“The army was established and led by Michael Collins and it continues to serve our country in a manner that he would be very proud of but I believe that he would be shocked, ashamed and very much saddened to witness the poor pay conditions and hardship that they are currently enduring.

“The fact that decent and honourable family members of serving Defence Forces personnel feel forced to protest and sleep outside Dail Eireann is something that I find deeply disappointing and hurtful as they are the most loyal servants of the state,” he added.

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A former president of the Association of Municipals Authorities of Ireland, Mr Collins said he was extremely disappointed at the lack of progress in addressing outstanding pay issues for members of the Defence Forces who “have been and continue to be treated very badly by the State.”

He said members of the Defence Forces were held in high regard for their dedicated work on UN peacekeeping missions where they represented Ireland with distinction and only last year people were reminded yet again of their professionalism during the 1916 centenary commemorations.

Mr Collins said that members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps have been the real victims of the recession that closed barracks and reduced units in a number of locations which resulted in personnel have to travel long distances in their own cars due to reassignment to other barracks.

“These very loyal committed and disciplined serving personnel in our Army, Navy and Air Corps represent us with courage and distinction on peace keeping duties abroad and yet here at home, they end up experiencing undue financial difficulty and hardship,” he said.

“And that financial difficulty and hardship is not just affecting the men and women themselves but also their spouses and partners and their children - I would urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to show compassion and leadership by addressing urgently their well deserved outstanding pay grievances.”