Written Answers Nos. 2092-2110
2092. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to reinstate the rent allowance scheme or to provide an equivalent allowance of €500 for members of the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37481/17]
View answerThis matter is currently under consideration through the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions within the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment further in the matter.
2093. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of beds in use in barracks across the State divided by temporary and standard accommodation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37482/17]
View answerThe number of bed places currently available for use by military personnel at each of the permanently occupied military locations is shown in the table below. This accommodation is generally referred to as Single Living In accommodation and the overall provision of such accommodation is based on military operational requirement.
Temporary accommodation at the above locations is intended for use on a short term basis e.g. for transit, training purposes as indicated in the table.
Non-temporary accommodation at the above locations is classified as standard or non-standard, using criteria established by the military authorities, primarily room size.
|
Location |
Total Number Of Beds Available For Use |
Standard |
Non Standard |
Temporary (Transit/Training etc) |
|
1st Brigade |
|
|
|
|
|
Collins Bks, Cork |
227 |
48 |
81 |
98 |
|
Dún UiMhaoilíosa Bks, Galway |
184 |
103 |
1 |
80 |
|
Sarsfield Bks, Limerick |
133 |
103 |
0 |
30 |
|
Stephens Bks, Kilkenny |
133 |
7 |
33 |
93 |
|
2nd Brigade |
|
|
|
|
|
Aiken Bks, Dundalk |
180 |
56 |
24 |
100 |
|
Cathal Brugha Bks, Dublin |
356 |
91 |
137 |
128 |
|
Custume Bks, Athlone |
234 |
201 |
33 |
0 |
|
Finner Camp, Donegal |
190 |
141 |
4 |
45 |
|
Gormanston Camp, Meath |
134 |
88 |
6 |
40 |
|
McKee Bks, Dublin |
249 |
136 |
50 |
63 |
|
St Bricin’s Hospital, Dublin |
12 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel |
201 |
27 |
149 |
25 |
|
DFTC, Curragh Camp |
970 |
365 |
195 |
410 |
|
Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cork |
222 |
122 |
36 |
64 |
|
Total |
3,425 |
1,488 |
761 |
1,176 |
2095. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to extend the €150 flat rate expenses allowance for ceremonial uniforms to be used to service combat uniforms for members of the Defence Forces. [37484/17]
View answerThe Flat Rate Expenses Allowance referred to by the Deputy was negotiated between PDFORRA, on behalf of its members, and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and these negotiations did not involve my Department. Therefore any claim to extend the allowance would be a matter for PDFORRA and the Revenue Commissioners.
2096. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the military installations owned and run by the State; the service provided by these installations; the average number of military personnel stationed in these buildings on an annual basis; the cost of recent upgrades to these structures in the past ten years; the planned upgrade or refurbishment pending on same, in tabular form [37491/17]
View answerIt has not been possible to compile the information requested in the time available. My officials are working with the military authorities to obtain the information which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
2097. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to upgrade or replace military equipment across the three services over the next five years; the estimated cost for replacing or upgrading this equipment; and the list of countries from which this equipment is being procured. [37492/17]
View answerMy priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government as set out on the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are being considered in the context of the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment planning process. In this context the principal aim over the period of the White Paper will be to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements both at home and overseas.
There is focus on the essential force protection provided by armoured vehicles, and in this regard a maintenance and upgrade programme has commenced for the current fleet of 80 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) which will seek to ensure viability of the fleet out to 2030. A contract was agreed in December 2016 with General Dynamics European Land Systems – Mowag, the original manufacturer of the fleet based in Switzerland, for a maintenance and upgrade programme. The value of the contract is €55m exclusive of VAT.
A small number of armoured logistical vehicles and armoured utility vehicles are also being procured for force protection from Westward Scania Ireland and Centigon France respectively, at an estimated total cost of €11m exclusive of VAT. Both contracts were awarded on foot of public tender competitions.
The White Paper underpins the ongoing replacement of the Naval Service fleet. A significant investment over recent years has been on the procurement of new Off-Shore Patrol Vessels for the Naval Service. The third ship in the programme, LÉ William Butler Yeats, was commissioned in to service in October 2016. A contract for an additional sister ship was placed with Babcock International, a British company, in June 2016 bringing investment in the new ships programme to over €250 million since 2010. The fourth ship, to be named LÉ George Bernard Shaw is scheduled for delivery in mid 2018.
Future Naval Service capabilities are being planned as part of the White Paper project planning process which will determine the Defence Organisation’s maritime capability requirements. The White Paper provides for the replacement of the current Naval Service flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi role vessel which will be enabled for helicopter operations and will also have a freight carrying capacity. It is the intention to hold a public tender competition in due course to cover the supply of the MRV subject to the availability of funding within the overall Defence capital funding envelope. The cost of the MRV will only be known once the tender competition is concluded.
The White Paper provides that the Air Corps will see the Cessna fleet replaced with three larger aircraft suitably equipped for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance tasks. The tender competition for the procurement of the three new aircraft is underway and the cost will be determined by the outcome of the tender competition. The White Paper also provides for the replacement of two CASA 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft with consideration of their replacement with larger more capable aircraft. This would enhance maritime surveillance and provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks.
Also, a decision was made in 2016 to replace a PC-9M aircraft and this aircraft was delivered from Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland this July at a cost of €5m exclusive of VAT. The new aircraft brings the fleet up to 8 and will assist in a required increase in pilot training in the Air Corps.
2098. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Department's recruitment policy for allowing members of the transgender and LGBT communities to enlist in all branches of the Defence Forces. [37493/17]
View answerThe Government believes that the Defence Forces should reflect the modern demographics of Irish society. To that end, the Defence Forces are committed to the principle of equal opportunities in all of its employment policies. Furthermore, the Defence Forces are committed to ensuring that the principles of equality are adhered to in recruitment, induction, employment and daily routine, training, education and promotion. The Defence Forces welcomes applications from all members of Irish society, irrespective of religion, sexual orientation or gender, including transgender. The Defence Forces operate in an environment without discrimination in areas covered by the Equality Acts and they comply with the legal provisions of the Gender Recognition Act 2015.
The Defence Forces launched its Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex (LGBTI) network “Defend with Pride” in October, 2016. This Network is a resource for all DF personnel. It aims to provide support, information and guidance for LGBTI personnel and allies who wish to support colleagues, friends and family.
2099. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount paid to the Catholic Church for the employment of chaplains in the Defence Forces in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [37494/17]
View answerChaplains of all faiths serving with the Defence Forces are paid directly by my Department from subhead A6 of the Defence Vote. The following table shows the amounts paid to Chaplains in respect of the years in question:
|
Year |
Amount €m |
|
2014 |
€1.12 |
|
2015 |
€1.05 |
|
2016 |
€0.99 |
|
2017 to end July (provisional) |
€0.60 |
2100. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of courses provided by the Defence Forces that receive or do not receive QQI accreditation, in tabular form. [37495/17]
View answerThe primary function of training and education in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable it to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces constantly benchmark training across all three arms against best military and academic practice. Military best practice is ensured by implementing a policy of standardisation that is in line with EU and NATO/Partnership for Peace partners. Academic best practice is ensured by benchmarking courses through accreditation under the National Framework of Qualifications which is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). The Defence Forces currently have 15 courses which are QQI accredited. The Defence Forces provide another 3,871 courses which do not have QQI accreditation because they are delivered for purely military purposes.
The QQI-accredited courses are as follows:
|
Army Cadet Training Course |
Army |
Level 7 Minor Award (NUI Maynooth) |
|
Junior Command and Staff Course |
Army, Air Corps |
Level 8 Dip (NUI Maynooth) |
|
Senior Command and Staff Course |
Joint (Tri Service) |
Level 9 Masters of Arts (NUI Maynooth) |
|
Senior Command Operator Course |
Naval Service |
Level 9 Special Purpose Award , (Cork Institute of Technology) |
|
Potential Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) Course |
Army, Air Corps |
Level 6 Higher Cert (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Potential NCO Course |
Naval Service |
Level 6 Higher Cert (Cork Institute of Technology) |
|
Standard NCO Course |
Army, Air Corps |
Level 7 Minor Award (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Standard NCO Course |
Naval Service |
Level 7 Minor Award (Cork Institute of Technology) |
|
Senior NCO Course |
Army, Air Corps |
Level 7 Ordinary Degree (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Senior NCO Course |
Naval Service |
Level 7 Ordinary Degree (Cork Institute of Technology) |
|
Logistics Accountancy Course |
Army, Air Corps |
Level 7 Ordinary Degree (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Communications Information Systems (CIS) Corps Young Officer Course |
Joint (Tri Service) |
Level 9 Masters of Science (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Engineering Branch Corps Young Officers Course |
Army |
Level 9 Masters of Science (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
Ordnance Corps Young Officer Course |
Army, Naval Service |
Level 9 Masters of Engineering (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
|
CIS Corps Trainee Technician Course |
Joint (Tri Service) |
Level 7 Ordinary Degree (Institute of Technology, Carlow) |
2101. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who joined the Permanent Defence Force in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, respectively; and the number of each of these yearly intakes who are still members of the Permanent Defence Force. [37619/17]
View answerAs of 25 August, 2017, the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
YEAR |
ENLISTED Personnel Recruited |
STILL IN SERVICE |
OFFICERS/CADETS Recruited |
STILL IN SERVICE |
|
2013 |
419 |
283 |
27 |
24 |
|
2014 |
461 |
303 |
42 |
31 |
|
2015 |
362 |
276 |
53 |
45 |
|
2016 |
589 |
422 |
94 |
91 |
|
2017 |
240 |
181 |
13 |
11 |
In general for enlisted personnel, the majority of those not still in service departed during the training phase. In relation to cadets, practically all of those no longer in service departed during training. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with operational requirements. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. In 2017, the Defence Forces are targeting an increase in the level of recruitment across the range of recruitment streams. The 2017 Cadet Competition was launched on 22 March 2017. A total of 100 Cadet inductions are due to take place in September 2017. The Defence Forces also plan to induct new Apprentices shortly.
General service recruitment campaigns for both the Army and Naval Service were launched earlier this year. The competitions have now progressed and general service recruitment has commenced. It is also planned to launch another general service recruitment campaign later this month.
2102. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) requested by his Department to administer an emergency humanitarian support scheme to assist small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies return to their pre-flood condition in the aftermath of flooding in County Donegal during the week of 22 August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37782/17]
View answerThe Government is allocating €2m to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses and community, sporting and voluntary bodies in County Donegal which through no fault of their own have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded following the exceptionally heavy rainfall of August 22nd and 23rd.
The scheme is aimed at providing a contribution to the costs of returning premises to their pre-flood condition including the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock. It only applies to premises that have been flooded and it is intended as an emergency humanitarian assistance contribution rather than compensation for loss or a replacement for the cover provided by insurance.
The emergency nature of the response to the difficulties of organisations affected by the flooding required a speedy process in order to meet their needs. In this regard a two step approach is being taken, involving an initial application which, if successful would lead to a quick payment, capped at €5,000 per property.
It is recognised that some premises have suffered significant damages over and above the €5,000 threshold and these will require a more detailed assessment of losses incurred. The second stage of the scheme will be a more lengthy process requiring a detailed assessment and will provide the scope for a further financial contribution with the total payment available for both stages combined capped at €20,000.
2103. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 28 June 2017, the reason the information could not be obtained by checking the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSPC, returns as malaria is a notifiable disease that should be reported to HSPC. [37838/17]
View answerI have been advised that Defence Force Medical Officers are required to make returns to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on an individual basis. Therefore, in order to obtain the information that you sought, all available Defence Force Medical Officers were consulted in relation to your question of 28 June.
As I indicated to you in my reply to Parliamentary Question of 14 June 2016, summary information in respect of notifications of infectious diseases is available from the HPSC on their website. However, issues may arise in regard to the accuracy of such data in respect of Defence Force personnel as situations may arise where the status of the individual as a member of the Defence Forces was either not recorded or not declared. While members of the Defence Forces are encouraged to present to the military medical system, they may opt to present to a civilian general practitioner, who may not be aware that they are a member of the Defence Forces. Equally there may be members of the Defence Forces who contracted malaria while on holidays in areas where risk of malaria exists.
Therefore, the Defence Forces are not in a position to corroborate the figures collected by the HPSC attributed to Defence Force personnel.
2104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the WHO advice that Lariam, Malarone and doxycycline are all equally effective in preventing malaria in sub-Saharan Africa in view of the fact that in 2015 and 2016 20 to 25% of troops in sub-Saharan Africa were prescribed one of the alternatives to Lariam and there were no cases of malaria during that period. [37839/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that this matter was the subject of discussion at a Private Member’s Motion in the Dáil on 28th June last. As I indicated to the House at that time, Malaria is a serious disease and is a threat to any military force operating in areas where the disease is prevalent. It must be emphasised that the reason Defence Forces use a malaria chemoprophylaxis in the first instance is to protect personnel.
In the WHO International Travel and Health Handbook it provides for a range of anti-malarials which includes mefloquine (Lariam). All of these anti-malaria drugs have contraindications and side effects. As I have stressed in previous replies to Parliamentary Questions on this issue, significant precautions are taken by the Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that individuals are screened by a Medical Officer for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability.
There are three anti-malarial drugs in use in the Defence Forces, namely, Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by medical officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.
A Working Group is currently examining issues arising in relation to the use of Lariam and has obtained advice from leading medical experts both national and international. I expect to receive the Group’s Report shortly and I can assure the Deputy that I will carefully consider its recommendations.
2105. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views regarding concerns raised by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers that their members were severely disadvantaged as a result of being excluded from the national level parallel process and Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration process in January 2017. [37935/17]
View answer2109. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the efforts made to deliver a transparent negotiation process through a clearly defined parallel structure and process for the Defence Forces representative associations during recent and future public service pay negotiations. [37939/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2105 and 2109 together.
Following the publication of the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on 9 May 2017, the Government initiated negotiations on an extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations.
Both RACO (Representative Association of Commissioned Officers) and PDFORRA ( Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association) were invited to the negotiations which were held under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). I am advised that both RACO and PDFORRA had equal standing with members of ICTU throughout the talks’ process. The issues raised by the Defence Forces Representative Associations were considered in tandem with those raised by other public sector representative associations and trade unions.
The Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service. Officials from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C and A Scheme to resolve issues.
As I have previously stated, I plan to initiate a review of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force, with the review to commence before the end of 2017.
2106. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the reduction of benefits to Defence Forces personnel since the introduction of the single pension scheme in January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37936/17]
View answerAs I indicated to the House in my reply to Question No. 51 on 11th July 2017, the occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme. Under the 2012 Act, overall statutory responsibility for the Single Scheme pension terms and rules rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Single Scheme was one of the key structural fiscal reform commitments agreed by Government with the EU/IMF in 2010 under the programme of financial support for Ireland. In the context of the Government’s decision to introduce the Single Scheme, a stated primary objective is to help significantly reduce the cost of public service pensions in the longer-term through far-reaching transformation and reform of the public service pension system. It provides for a new approach which modernises and standardises pension arrangements throughout the public service. As stated by the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on publication of the relevant Bill in September 2011, the new scheme will be fairer particularly to those on low and moderate earnings and, above all, the public service will be better able to manage the costs associated with the demographic and other changes which are coming. These policy objectives and the underlying rationale for them were well publicised in advance of enactment of the 2012 Act.
As I also said in my reply to Question No. 51 on 11th July 2017, the Single Scheme must be viewed in the overall context of the fundamental changes and reforms to the pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service. Those reforms were decided by Government and the Oireachtas as necessary to support the long-term financial sustainability of the public service pension system. In that regard, I would refer the Deputy to the Annual Review of the FEMPI Acts published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in June 2017, paragraph 34 of which states as follows:
“The 2017 estimate for the Exchequer pension bill is €2.59 billion in net terms. Underlying cost-increasing trends, notably improvements in life expectancy and connected demographic factors, will continue to challenge the financing of public service pensions. In particular, the expansion of the public service throughout the 1970s will lead to a large cohort of retirements in the current decade. In this context the launch at the start of 2013 of a new career-average pension scheme for new-joiner public servants, known as the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, will be important in curbing upward cost pressures over the longer-term”.
The 2017 pension bill of €2.59 billion includes a net sum of €224.6 million in respect of Defence Forces pension benefits, the cost of which has been increasing year on year.
The terms and rules of the Single Scheme are fundamentally different to the superannuation arrangements of all public servants recruited before 1 January 2013. In that context, there are many established features of the pre-1 January 2013 public service occupational pension arrangements that have been discontinued, or that have been fundamentally changed under the Single Scheme. Among the most notable of these changes is the introduction of career-average pension accrual under the Single Scheme, in place of the more costly final salary pension accrual applicable in the earlier “pre-existing” public service pension schemes.
I should point out that notwithstanding the novel distinguishing features of the Single Scheme, members of the Permanent Defence Force in that Scheme retain the minimum pension age of 50 to reflect operational needs, as already applies to new entrant military personnel recruited since April 2004. This compares with an effective raising of the minimum pension age, from 65 to 68 years, in the case of the mainstream ‘standard accrual’ membership occupations in the Single Scheme. Moreover, the 2012 Act does not alter military retirement ages for future or serving military personnel generally, or upper service limits where applicable – these will continue to be determined by the Minister for Defence, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Importantly, the Single Scheme also retains ‘fast accrual’ pension terms for groups such as the Defence Forces: for operational and HR manpower policy reasons they are required to retire earlier than the norm, and on that account they retain early-paid pensions and accelerated pension accrual.
2107. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the findings of a report by a company (details supplied) into the career pay and superannuation arrangements of Defence Forces officers relative to public servants. [37937/17]
View answerRates of remuneration and conditions of employment in each part of the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to levels of pay available in related public sector employments.
On 18 October 2016, following Government approval, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, established the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) to advise Government on Public Service remuneration policy.
The report referred to by the Deputy was included in a submission made by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) to the Public Service Pay Commission.
Following publication of the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on 9 May 2017, the Government initiated negotiations on an extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations.
The Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations attended the negotiations and the issues raised by the Associations were considered in tandem with those raised by other public sector representative associations and trade unions.
The Defence Forces have received the benefits of collective agreements in the past and it is intended that future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will continue to be dealt with within this process.
2108. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the senior official from his Department who has been appointed to the working group established to review the State’s industrial relations position to facilitate recent Government decisions on the Garda associations. [37938/17]
View answerThe Department of Defence has been afforded observer status by the Department of Justice and Equality, to the Working Group on industrial relations structures for an Garda Síochána. The official nominated to liaise with counterparts in the Department of Justice and Equality is Mr. Stephen Hall, Principal Officer, Conciliation and Arbitration Branch.
2110. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reasons during the public sector pay talks when RACO tabled retention initiatives and invited defence sector management to do likewise the matter was diverted to the negotiating table of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37940/17]
View answerFollowing the publication of the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on 9 May 2017, the Government initiated negotiations on an extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations. The Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations attended the negotiations which were held under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The Official side at the talks included representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with officials from the Department of Defence and military management. The issues raised by the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations were considered in tandem with those raised by other public sector representative associations and trade unions.
I subsequently met the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations following the finalisation of the Workplace Climate in the Defence Forces focus group research and before its official publication. There will be further engagement between the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Representative Associations on this matter.
It should be noted that the Department of Defence, in conjunction with the Defence Forces, raised recruitment and retention issues, as part of the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission. This is specifically referenced by the Commission in paragraph 6.13 of the Report.
Section 3 of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides that the Public Service Pay Commission be requested to complete a comprehensive examination of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention in those sectors and employment streams identified in the Report of the Public Sector Pay Commission. The parties to the Agreement will have the opportunity to make submissions to the Commission.
