Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
375. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the proposed arrangements for carrying out a review of wages and salaries of enlisted members of the Defence Forces; if an organisation (details supplied) will be consulted in relation to these arrangements before they are finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61511/21]
View answerThe 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.
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 (comprising officials from the Department of Defence, military management, the Department of Expenditure & Public Reform) and the Representative side on a range of items.
The current public service pay agreement, ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ provides for increases in pay and allowances to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces. Most recently a general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever was the greater, came into effect on 1st October 2021.
The agreement provides for further increases in 2022, i.e.:
- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1st February 2022.
- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1st October 2022.
The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces. The Programme for Government provided for the establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces. The terms of reference for the Commission included an examination of the evolution of all remuneration systems and structures currently in place in the Defence Forces.
The Commission is due to submit their report by the end of the year and I look forward to receiving the report in due course. The recommendations will then be fully considered and will inform future decisions regarding the Defence Forces.
The PDF representative associations will be consulted on matters arising from report that come within the scope of representation.
