Edward Nealon
Ceist:27 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Defence when the Gleeson report on pay and conditions in the Army will issue.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pay and Conditions.
Dick Spring
Ceist:34 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the recent reports that the Gleeson Commission on pay and allowances will not be in a position to meet the June deadline as outlined by him to Dáil Éireann earlier this year.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 34 together.
I am not aware of any reports of the kind indicated. While the commission are completely independent in the conduct of their business and have many complex issues to consider I am hopeful that their work will be completed in June.
Would the Minister say for how long, after the report is issued, the Government will deliberate on the commission's findings and when we can expect to see these findings implemented or will they be implemented automatically?
All matters will be considered as quickly as possible. That is our commitment. The committee were set up as a matter of urgency and will report on time. It will then be a matter for the Government to do their business on time.
I am pleased the Minister is able to confirm this afternoon that the deadline mentioned will be adhered to, but given that the House, in all probability, will rise in July for the summer, would the Minister say when this report will be made available, not only to the House but also to the public and when we can expect to see its proposal implemented?
That will be done in the ordinary course. Like the recommendations of any other commission, they will be published. That will be the Government's decision and there is nothing extraordinary about it.
I hope the report will have far-reaching implications but let me further ask the Minister if the necessary money is available in the current Estimate to implement the recommendations of the report?
That will be a matter for the Government when they do their sums.
Will the Minister provide the money this year?
The Government are there to examine the matter when the report comes to hand and to see how it can be done. There is no point in anticipating this. That is what we are here for.
The people are anticipating the findings being implemented this year and the money being made available.
Would the Minister clarify two matters for me in respect of the Gleeson report? First, will the report, on its completion, be published and made available to the House?
We are having repetition; this question has been asked two or three times.
Perhaps I missed the answer.
The answer is yes.
Second, would the Minister confirm, if the Government seek to act on the recommendations on pay, that this will not require legislation but rather can be acted on by way of Government decision?
I cannot anticipate the findings of the report but unless something extraordinary turns up——
I appreciate that.
——in general terms it should not require legislation.
Would the Minister give a guarantee to the House that there will be the minimum delay in acting on the Gleeson report, irrespective of what the actions of the Government will be?
As is usual, the Government will act quickly on the matter.