Representative Associations
The interests of members of the Defence Forces are represented by a number of representative associations similar to trade unions.
Commissioned Officers of the Permanent Defence Forces are represented by RACO
Rank-and-file members of the Permanent Defence Forces are represented by the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). PDFORRA is affiliated to the Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations (ICPSA) and to the European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL). In 2009, members of PDFORRA took part in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) protest against the government's handling of the 2008–09 financial crisis. The Department of Defence warned that Defence Forces members could not take part in or sponsor any "public agitation", and that PDFORRA had "no express permission" for members to take part in the protests.
All ranks of the Reserve Defence Forces are represented by RDFRA.
Read more about this topic: Defence Forces (Ireland)
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