Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Defence Forces Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Ceisteanna (112)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

112. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the protests over pay and conditions by veterans and families of the Defence Forces. [6365/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am aware of the views expressed and the issues raised in relation to protests by veterans and families of the Defence Forces. I note in particular the call for the restoration of pay.

The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, that is RACO (for commissioned officers) and PDFORRA (for enlisted personnel) to present claims and proposals relating to remuneration and conditions of service.

Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures necessary to stabilise national finances during the financial crisis. The recovery in the economy has provided the fiscal resources to provide for a fair and sustainable recovery in public service pay scales.

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 is weighted in favour of those on lower pay.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force have received the pay increases due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In addition in 2017, following negotiations with PDFORRA, improved pay scales for general service recruits and privates, who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, were implemented.

In 2016, the Government established the Public Service Pay Commission to provide objective advice to Government in relation to Public Service pay policy. Following the publication of the Public Service Pay Commission report in May 2017, the Government initiated negotiations on an extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, which was accepted by members of the Permanent Defence Forces, through their representative associations, provides for increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The increases due in 2018 and from 1 January 2019 have been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel. Further increases in pay are scheduled for 2019 and 2020.

By the end of the current Public Service Pay agreement the payscales of all public servants (including members of the Defence Forces), earning under €70,000 per annum, will be restored to pre FEMPI levels. The restoration of the 5% reduction to allowances cut under FEMPI is also scheduled in the agreement.

New entrants who joined the Defence Forces since 2011, will also benefit from the measures which were recently announced in relation to interventions at points 4 and 8 of the relevant pay scales for all such new entrants to the public service. This measure, which I am pleased to say has recently been accepted by PDFORRA, will be effective for their members from 1 March 2019.

In accordance with the provisions of Public Services Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the Government has tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with conducting a more comprehensive examination of the specific recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces, which the Commission identified in Chapter 6 of its report in May 2017. The Commission's work is on-going. The Government will give due consideration to the findings and recommendations that arise from the work of the Commission.

Barr
Roinn