Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reports in the newspaper on my Department sitting on a report from military management on pay could not be further from the truth. Whoever leaked it or gave the information to the reporter was misinformed. The Deputy is aware of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission published in May 2017. Members of the Defence Forces are highlighted throughout the report. The public service stability programme to restore core pay to 2020 was agreed to last year and members of the Defence Forces will see core pay rise between now and 2020. The Public Service Pay Commission is looking at specialist pay and there have been negotiations between the Department, unions and military management in the past few months.

Military management was asked to submit a discussion document only. It did so in late February this year. It was negotiated in March and into April. From the document, on which the media were briefed last Sunday, came the submission on pilot retention in the Air Corps. It was submitted to the Public Service Pay Commission a number of weeks ago. We are working on further evidence-based data for the rest of the organisation that will be submitted to the commission. I want to have them submitted as soon as possible. Officials of my Department are working with military management in preparing an evidence-based submission to the commission.

On foot of the exact document submitted by military management to my Department in February 2017, a submission on pilot retention has been prepared and sent to the Public Service Pay Commission. It annoys me to hear it alleged that my Department is sitting on something. That is totally untrue. I take the allegation almost personally because I know exactly how hard the officials in my Department are working on the submission. To say they are not working on it is totally untrue. I ask people to reflect on what appeared in the newspaper.

On the gap analysis, the Deputy is correct. This is a White Paper project which was brought forward under my instructions. I expect work to begin on the gap analysis project and the White Paper in the next month or two. My priority is the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission. Military management has raised it with me as its priority. It is also my priority to get this issue sorted out. When that is done, we will work on the gap analysis and the White Paper.

On my appointment in May 2016, I initiated the initiative on entry and re-entry. I am sometimes frustrated by the number of times it has to go between the Department, management and the representative associations. This is something that will happen and I am determined to make it happen. The military organisation has to change. If one examines our counterparts in Europe and beyond, one notes that people who leave the military organisation and gain what may be vital experience in the private sector should be given an opportunity to bring it back to the organisation. The next chief of staff of the Australian defence forces will be a re-entrant. He gained considerable experience in the private sector and has re-entered the military to share his experience.

Direct entry has happened in the Naval Service. It is working quite well, but I want it to work right throughout the organisation, including the Air Corps and the Army.

On re-entry, a number of people, mainly officers and pilots, have come to me to say they want to re-enter the organisation. They have gained experience elsewhere and seen life on the other side, but terms and conditions have to be worked out before we can sign off on it. I understand and hope I can sign off before the end of June, or perhaps in July.

Over 640 personnel are serving overseas. As I stated, the Naval Service departed to engage in Operation Sophia last Sunday week. It is great to see members of the Air Corps and the Naval Service serving alongside members of the Army in the likes of UNDOF and Lebanon through UNIFIL.

The 60th anniversary of the United Nations is coming up, as is the 40th anniversary of UNIFIL. Both anniversaries will be marked. A civil team and a military team will come up with an appropriate ceremony. I want every member of the Defence Forces who served overseas in the past 60 years, from the time of the Congo mission until today, to participate. I hope something can be done in each barracks across the country.