Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 June 2019
41. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason excerpts from the Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces were leaked following the delivery of the report to him in May 2019; and the reason the report was not immediately published in full further to these leaks in view of the effect of the leaks on Defence Forces morale. [25620/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Pay Commission was established to advise Government on public service remuneration policy. In the current phase, the second phase of the Commission's work, it was tasked by its Terms of Reference to undertake an examination of whether, and to what extent, there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff in key areas of the public service identified in its first report. The Public Service Pay Commission has adopted a modular approach to its work programme for its present exercise.
As the Deputy will be aware, the first module was published by the Commission in August 2018 and deals with issues relating to Nursing and Midwifery, Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and Hospital Consultants.
The Commission engaged on work in relation to the Defence Forces. Written submissions were received from both the Employer and relevant staff associations and more recently, in March, oral presentations were also made to the Commission by both parties.
The Commission has now completed its examination of recruitment and retention matters in the Defence Forces and has submitted its Report to me for consideration.
This Report, following consideration by Government, will be published and will then fall to be considered by the parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement, 2018 - 2020 (as per section 3 of that Agreement). I do not propose to comment on speculative media commentary on a Report which is yet to be brought to Government.
