Vol. 573 No. 4
196 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 30 September 2003, if he has yet concluded discussions with PDFORRA and RACO on the way in which the recommendations of the benchmarking body will be implemented in the Defence Forces; the outcome of same; when awards will be made to Defence Forces personnel and pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25894/03]
On 30 September 2003, I stated that discussions were continuing within established arrangements with the permanent Defence Forces representative associations, PDFORRA and RACO, on how the recommendations of the Benchmarking Body can be implemented in the Defence Forces in the context of the Sustaining Progress agreement. The position currently is that, last month, RACO balloted its members and a majority voted in favour of acceptance of the terms of the agreement. For serving personnel, payment of 25% of the benchmarking awards granted to basic pay and backdated to 1 December 2001, was made with their October salary. 25% of the awards granted to allowances and backdated to 1 December 2001 will be made with their November salary. Pensioners will receive their arrears of pension with their December 2003 pension payment. As regards PDFORRA, the position is that it plans to ballot its members shortly with a result due later this month. If a majority of members vote in favour then the arrears will be paid to serving personnel and pensioners as soon as is practicable thereafter.
