Bodies representing military personnel will demand that soldiers be paid €104 extra for every day they carry out security duty at Dublin Airport.
The Irish Mirror has learned that PDFORRA and RACO will meet officials from the Department of Defence today – as dozens of soldiers are trained in security duties to help at the crisis-ridden airport. The general secretary of PDFORRA, which represents rank and file soldiers, sailors and Air Corps personnel confirmed last night that it would be seeking extra allowance.
Gerard Guinan said the association wanted its personnel to be given twice the normal daily allowance of €52 paid when soldiers are providing aid to the civil power. He said: “This is a modest ask, given the onerous nature of the responsibilities being placed on our members.”
Read more: Dublin Airport: Soldiers ordered on 500km round trip for security work
Sources also said RACO, which represents officers in the Defence Forces, would also seek extra payment for its members taking part in the same operation.
TD and former officer in the elite Army Ranger Wing Cathal Berry has warned that the deployment of military personnel to the airport could cause more problems than it solves. The Kildare South TD warned that the lower rate of pay for soldiers could cause industrial unrest at the airport.
He said: “If our armed forces are deployed to the airport it’s very clear that they won’t be getting the appropriate rate of pay that would be given to their civilian equivalent.”
The Irish Mirror revealed yesterday that the soldiers from the 28th Infantry Battalion at Finner Campo in Ballyshannon had been sent on a 500km trip to Dublin to prepare for working at the airport.
They are learning the skills they need to act as security guards – and once the government gives the nod, they will then be deployed from Donegal to spend up to a week at the airport.
Read next:
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