Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Garda Síochána does the vetting in conjunction with the Defence Forces intelligence. No civil servant is involved in the process. Of course, setting out the terms and conditions of pay and everything like that is done by civil servants in the Department. The process is exactly the same as the process that applies to An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces do not set the pay standards. That is done in the context of public service pay arrangements. Like all recruitment processes there are negotiations between the representative organisations, PDFORRA and RACO, and my Department about the terms and conditions.

I understand the Defence Forces place the advertisements, but I will come back to the Deputy on that. The Defence Forces place the advertisement. They do the recruitment campaign and get a budget to carry that out. Throughout the process no civil servant is involved, only members of the Defence Forces. When I have a recruitment meeting, I bring members of the Defence Forces to me. While I also have civil servants with me, the Defence Forces run the whole process of recruitment.

Regarding the Chief of Staff, arrangements for the Defence Forces were reviewed as part of the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I have no doubt the Deputy has read the White Paper from cover to cover. It is a very comprehensive document. On that occasion, the White Paper made no recommendation to change the Accounting Officer. In all of the meetings and conversations on the White Paper on Defence by people inside and outside the Defence Forces, absolutely no recommendation was made on that.

Significant aspects of the defence budget are delegated to the Defence Forces. Decisions on expenditure in these areas rest with the Defence Forces. Larger expenditure on joint groups requires high-level planning and procurement groups. The Department oversees that, just as the Department of Justice and Equality oversees spending within An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner does not set the pay scales. He has a responsibility for the day-to-day running of An Garda Síochána.

Deputy Grealish asked me something else.