I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 69, 70, 71, 79, 81 and 90 together.
At its meeting held on the 4th July 2019, the Government accepted, in full, the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The report contains a broad range of recommendations to deal with recruitment and retention challenges in the Permanent Defence Force.
The recommendations includes a 10% increase in Military Service Allowance, the restoration of the rates of certain allowances cut in the Haddington Road Agreement, and the re-introduction of the retention/loyalty bonus for Air Corp pilots.
These are immediate benefits. Future recommendations from this report include a review of technical pay and a review of pay structures in the Permanent Defence Force.
The Government also agreed an extensive implementation plan for the report. The plan sets out the actions to be taken and the timelines within which they will be taken.
In addition, the plan sets out an oversight process and my Department is putting in place the civil and military structures to support that process.
The report of the Public Service Pay Commission is being considered by the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations and there will be further meetings in the coming weeks to provide clarification of matters arising.