asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to increase the pay and allowances of Army personnel to compensate for the increase in the cost of living.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remuneration of Army Personnel.
21.
It is not proposed at present to increase the pay and allowances of Army personnel. I should perhaps explain that in accordance with normal practice the question of pay increases for the Defence Forces will fall to be considered in the light of developments affecting Public Service remuneration generally.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that, since the last pay increases were granted to Army personnel, the cost of living has increased by about nine points? Is he aware that the allowances to Army personnel were recently reduced by one penny a day? Would the Parliamentary Secretary not ask the Minister for Defence to consider doing something now about having the matter put in order?
Army pay is normally adjusted in line with developments in the Public Service generally and the last increase was given in June, 1966. That was the tenth Round. The Civil Service does not set the headlines for pay increases in the ordinary way but when a pattern emerges, after the present cases have been considered, I feel sure that the Army personnel will get whatever amount is considered appropriate.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary guarantee that they will be paid retrospective to the date on which normal increases have been given to ordinary workers employed by the State? Surely he is not suggesting that the rate given to Army personnel compares in any way with the rate paid to higher civil servants?
I am not going to engage in any argument on this but this I will say: the Fianna Fáil Party have never been ungenerous, as the Army knows, to the personnel of the Defence Forces.
(Interruptions.)
If the Parliamentary Secretary considers a reduction of one penny as being generous, he should have another look at the matter.