Vol. 561 No. 1
207 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider introducing an incentive scheme to encourage operatives to remain in the service similar to that operating for air corps pilots; if he will further consider the substantiation of the acting ranks now held by these serving personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3292/03]
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 all matters relating to pay and allowances, including a claim for such a scheme as mentioned by the Deputy, come within the scope of representation of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association – PDFORRA – and are processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force which was established in agreement with the association.
As negotiations under the scheme are confidential to the parties involved, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.
I would however like to draw the Deputy's attention to the significant difference in the training requirements, duration of training and conditions of employment of air corps pilots – who must complete a 12 year period of service undertaking after their training is complete and enlisted personnel, who have no such service requirement.
