Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2020
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which issues in respect of pay and conditions in the military have been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29531/20]
View answerSimilar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis.
Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases has been weighted in favour of those on lower pay.
An increase of 2% on annualised salaries was implemented from 1st October 2020, under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. The 5% cut in allowances imposed under FEMPI were also restored from that date.
The pay scales of all public servants (including members of the Defence Forces), earning under €70,000 per annum have been restored to the levels in place prior to the introduction of the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation.
In addition to the general round of pay increases awarded to public servants, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefitted from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces allowances as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission. This included a 10% increase in Military Service Allowance, the restoration of cuts in certain Defence Forces allowances imposed by the Haddington Road Agreement and the restoration of a service commitment scheme for flying officers.
The Permanent Defence Force representative associations will be included in the negotiations on a new national public service pay agreement.
The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces. This will consider, amongst other matters, pay and allowances and composition of the Defence Forces. The Programme for Government also provides that, on completion of the Commission's work, a permanent pay review body will be established for the Defence Forces.
