Furious troops want clarity from the Government on how they will be drafted into Dublin Airport to assist with security.
Defence Forces representative groups have warned that the army should not be used as cheap labour to cover failings at the country’s busiest airport.
Green Party leader and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan asked the Cabinet to agree that the army be put on standby to help.
READ MORE: Soldiers hit back at being asked to 'compensate' for poor management of Dublin Airport queues
Now, the President of Defence Forces Representative Association, PDFORRA, has said clarification is needed on when exactly members of the Defence Forces will be needed to assist with security at Dublin Airport, as well as what roles they will be filling.
Mark Keane questioned if Defence Forces members would be required to undertake regular duties as well as working at Dublin Airport.
He said there are issues around health and safety, as well as the Working Time Act.
"The Commission on Defence when it made its findings over six months ago highlighted this, saying that there was a custom and practice of using the Defence Forces as a form of cheap labour, their words not mine, and this once again demonstrates that.
"Six months on we still haven't seen the investment that we badly need in the Defence Forces, not alone on the personnel side with, but also in the equipment.
"So this is just another example of the Government launching these great policies, with great fanfare, and then that it goes on the back burner,” he told RTÉ.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has welcomed the Government’s decision to use troops and said it will only further support airport staff.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said drafting in troops will “free up 100 of the DAA's security staff who have done a great job but need the support of the army particularly at weekends so that passengers and families can get through the airport quickly and enjoy a well-deserved break.”
He said it's sensible to have the army on standby as a contingency and said it is not "skivvy work".
Sinn Fein have hit out at the way members of the Army found out through media that they may be required to work at the Airport.
The party’s spokeswoman on workers’ rights, Louise O’Reilly said troops need to be "adequately compensated" for any extra work they carry out.
The Irish Mirror has contacted Minister Eamon Ryan for comment.
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