Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The commitment to which the Deputy refers is one of 17 contained in the action plan under the pay agreement and modernisation agenda for the Defence Forces. The action plan is itself derived from the modernisation agenda of March 2007 agreed with the Defence Forces representative associations and both are in turn, modelled on the Towards 2016 agreement between the social partners.

This particular commitment, the opening one in the action plan, is in the nature of an overall statement of intent with regard to optimising the structures and flexibility in the Defence Forces. The commitment is set in the context of the successful reduction in Permanent Defence Force numbers to 10,500 and maintenance of the three-brigade structure in line with the recommendations of the White Paper on Defence 2000. The general commitment to modernisation and change is recited within this context. I know the Deputy is fully aware of the tremendous progress that has been made in the modernisation of the Defence Forces since 2000 which is described in detail in the White Paper on Defence 2000 — Review of Implementation, published by my Department in April 2007. The action plan elaborates on a wide range of further commitments across the whole spectrum of change and modernisation in the Defence Forces. There are a number of these areas where significant progress has been made and others where work remains to be done. These have been the subject of discussion in this House on many occasions, including today, on which I will be answering questions on medical services in the Defence Forces, the re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force and civilianisation, among other subjects.

I am satisfied with the overall progress made to date in implementing the action plan. As provided for in the modernisation agenda and pay agreement, a performance verification group, PVG, monitors performance against the commitments set out in the action plan and makes recommendations as to whether the pay increases set out in the agreement are justified. The Defence Forces representative associations, my Department and the military authorities are represented on the PVG. The group has an independent chairman, Mr. Frank Murray, former Secretary General to the Government.

The PVG meets on a regular basis to review progress on all elements of the action plan. The two most recent meetings were on 12 December 2007 and 25 January 2008. The next meeting is scheduled for 30 July 2008.

See this speech in context