Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
18. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if he and his Department will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and other representative bodies in the Defence Forces on pay and conditions for serving members, many of whom are experiencing a housing crisis while living on or close to the poverty line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25111/21]
View answerThat is perfect. I ask the Minister and his Department to engage with the representative bodies, particularly on the experiences serving members are having due to the housing crisis. They are at the pin of their collar. Many live close to if not on the poverty line because of ever-increasing and exceptionally high rents. This is the number one housing issue that comes through my Athlone office, which is very close to Custume Barracks. I ask the Minister to engage with the representative bodies to see if a clear plan can be put in place to address this crisis, which will absolutely affect future numbers in the Defence Forces.
I ask the Minister to revert with a written response because we are against the clock.
I will come back to the Deputy in writing. I take her point. I talk to the representative bodies all the time and I will happily talk to them on this issue.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration, C&A, for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, relating to remuneration and conditions of service and having regard to the provisions of public sector pay agreements.
Officials from my Department continue to work with the representative associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the official side and the representative side on a range of items which are processed through C&A.
The C&A scheme was independently reviewed in 2018, the outcome of the review containing a number of recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency of the scheme. Agreement was reached with the associations on a revised C&A scheme, incorporating the recommendations in the review, and came into operation in January 2020. Whilst agreement on all matters is never inevitable it is the case that the associations have delivered numerous positive benefits for their members through C&A.
Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for Defence, I have also met with both Permanent Defence Force representative associations, RACO and PDFORRA, on three occasions: 17 July 2020, 20 October 2020 and 17 December 2020. I have also met with the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association on one occasion on 23 November 2020.
The Department of Defence does not have discretion to award separate pay increases. However, the stabilisation of the national finances following the financial crisis has led to improvements within the economy which have allowed the Government to restore pay to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants. This has been delivered in accordance with national public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases has been weighted in favour of those on lower pay.
Some of the increases received in recent times on foot of the most recent pay agreement include a 2% increase on annualised salaries from 1 October 2020 and the restoration of the 5% cut in allowances imposed under the FEMPI legislation, restored from the same date. In addition to the general rounds of pay increases awarded, 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 including a 10% increase in military service allowance.
While the minimum remuneration for trained personnel is comprised of basic pay and military service allowance, remuneration for individual members of the Permanent Defence Force is also dependent on a range of factors relating to the role and duties they perform. This can entail additional remuneration relating to technical pay, duty allowances or other special allowances.
Negotiations held in late 2020 on a new public service agreement lead to a new agreement, Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022, which has subsequently been ratified by the overwhelming majority of public sector unions. Should the representative associations accept this agreement, their members will benefit from further increases in pay. I look forward to further continued constructive engagement with the Defence Forces representative associations on that agreement, which I hope will be ratified by the associations.
The programme for Government provided for the establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces, which was established on 15 December 2020. Upon completion of the commission's work, I will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body, reflecting the unique nature of military service in the context of the public service.
