asked the Minister for Defence if a decision has yet been made on the rates of pay of serving Army personnel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Rates of Pay.
83.
A decision has been made in the case of NCOs and Privates and has been announced. A decision in regard to officers will be announced within a day or two.
I think the Minister will agree that this announcement was made subsequent to the question being sent to his Department. I am not trying to score, but that is so. Would the Minister not agree that, if a decision on the officers' rate is being made in a day or so, it should have been possible for him to give it in this House since this is the proper place to make such an announcement?
I have not got the decisions yet.
I am amazed. It must be hidden under somebody's file because it has been taken, as the Minister knows. Would he also consider increasing the CRA because, I am sure he will admit, costs have gone up?
The decision in regard to the increase to officers has not yet been finalised. It has to be cleared in the Department of Finance, as the Deputy must know as well as I do. It cannot be announced until it is cleared. I do not know what the Deputy has in mind in regard to the CRA because that does not arise in this question. He did ask earlier about it and he was told there was a reduction of one penny a day in the particular six months involved but there is an increase of, I think, fivepence a day in the current half-year. This is the allowance in lieu of rations.
Does the Minister consider fivepence adequate? It is only an increase of fourpence in actual fact. Does the Minister not agree that those who are supplying the materials may, in some cases, get an increase in their direct rates because of those increases?
84.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will set up a commission, similar to that already set up for the Gardaí, to investigate the pay and conditions of the Defence Forces.
I am considering whether a special review of the pay of the Permanent Defence Force and related matters should be undertaken.