Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations section 6 provide for representative structures for members of the Defence Forces. In accordance with the regulations, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, represents officers of the Permanent Defence Force in respect of the matters specified in the third schedule to the regulations. The ranks involved are colonel, lieutenant-colonel, commandant, captain, lieutenant and second-lieutenant and cadets.

The rates of pay of brigadier general are determined by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The review body is an independent standing body whose primary function is to advise the Government on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to higher public servants, members of the Judiciary, and political officeholders. As the rank of brigadier general is the third highest rank in the Defence Forces, I am satisfied the review body is the appropriate forum for determining the pay rates of brigadier generals.

I have no proposals nor have I received an approach from the general staff to amend the regulations to provide that the rank of brigadier general be amongst those represented by RACO.

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